ADAM Chapman is ready and raring to go as he prepares for life on the European Challenge Tour.

The 22-year-old will make his bow on the second tier of European golf in March, having shown his class – and earned his card – by winning the EuroPro Tour Championship in Portugal in October.

The likes of Martin Kaymer, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Brooks Koepka have all come through the Challenge Tour in the past.

It is a big step-up for the Windermere player, but one he is looking forward to on the back of a successful first season as a professional.

“I can’t wait,” said Chapman, whose first tournaments of the year will be in Turkey at the end of the month, followed by a trip to Portugal, before the Challenge Tour begins. “I start at the end of March, and I’ll be starting preparations for it this week.

“It will be a lot better standard than last year, and there will be a lot more strength in depth as well.

“I haven’t really set my goals yet, I’m just going to go out there, try to enjoy it, and see how well I can do.”

A top-45 finish on the order of merit will ensure him a place back on the Challenge Tour in 2019, while the top 15 go on to play on the European Tour – a level Chapman hopes he will reach in his pro career.

He added: “To be honest, I’ll be happy just to keep my card for the first year. If I can get a win or a few top-10s, then that would be great.

“Getting on the European Tour isn’t impossible. It’s the long-term goal; it’s where everybody wants to get.”

Chapman’s success in the EuroPro Tour Championship last year came after a hard first season on that tour.

While he had made a good impression in pre-tour events in Portugal and back on home shores, he struggle at times to adapt to the professional circuit, and was 54th on the order of merit before his win in Portugal catapulted him to third.

The victory showed he can perform in the big events, giving him confidence as he prepares for a series of tournaments on a whole new level.

“Last year, I just tried to make it to the Tour Championships, which I did – just – then I went along and won it,” said Chapman, who will be working hard at his home club of Carus Green before the season starts.

“That definitely boosted my confidence. It was nice to to be able to prove to myself that I could win.

“I had struggled a little bit, I hadn’t been putting very well, and I also hurt my back halfway through the season, so it had been a bit disappointing until then.

“There was a lot of potential up until then though.”