But the 42-year-old professional attached to Royal Lytham and St Annes won't be satisfied until he regains his card and a place on the main circuit.
Eales, who hasn't played full time at the top level for three campaigns, gave himself an early season boost when he fired a second round six-under-par 66 in the opening Tamsel Tour fixture at Prestatyn.
"I was pleased with that even though I didn't win," he said as he finished a shot behind Scotland's Paul McKechnie.
"My game is strong enough to compete in Europe and I'll return to the qualifying school at the end of the season.
"I have several years left in me and I'm not that far away from the senior tour which is one of my targets.
"One reason for playing regionally is to keep competitive. Wherever you play the standard is getting better and if you jump off that carousel it's harder to get back on to it."
Eales must rely on invitations to peg up on the Challenge Tour because his ranking is too high but he said optimistically: "If I can win one of those events that will get me back to the main tour."
And he would like nothing better that to achieve that at the Morson International Challenge pro-am at Marriott Worsley Park at the end of May.
MATTHEW Nixon, from Ashton-under-Lyne, and Chorley's Sam Stuart are in the Lancashire side hoping to repeat their 2004 victory in the Four Counties Junior Tournament tomorrow at Hawkstone Park. Bramall Park duo Kame McCumskey and Michael Bedford are in the Cheshire line-up.
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