GRANT Hamerton faces the biggest test of a long season when he pegs up in the Challenge Tour Grand Final which starts in Bordeaux on Thursday.

The Hopwood Cottage-attached professional needs no reminding of the importance of not only making the cut but winning enough money to keep his position in the order of merit.

The top 15 players will all be handed their passports for the lucrative European circuit for next year — those outside the zone must suffer the ordeal of returning to Tour School later next month.

And Hamerton goes to France occupying the last qualifying spot with less than £600 separating him from the chasing pack which includes Sale-based Iain Pyman.

But even if he drops down one position, Hamerton will still regain the card he lost last year — thanks to Jamie Donaldson.

Storming season

The Macclesfield rookie pro has already qualified for the main circuit after a storming season. He is lying second in the Challenge Tour merit but he’s been taken out of the final reckoning because he’s won an astonishing £122,000 from seven events on the full tour.

Some £64,000 of that came from the much maligned Dunhill Links Championship last week in which shared ninth place.

He also picked up £10,000 for finishing fourth with England cricket captain Nasser Hussain in the team event.

And with £55,000 in the Challenge Tour pot, his running total stands at £187,000 — not bad for a player who was an amateur last year!

Hamerton, who lives in Bolton, said: ‘‘Jamie could have done me a massive favour but if I don’t get my card this week I’ll be disappointed because I’ve made a big effort this season.

‘‘The Challenge Tour is a tough school and if I get through to the main circuit it will be perfect because I can start to plan my year properly because I know I can play in most tournaments.’’

Hamerton did not kick-start his season until he won the Luxembourg Open at the of June.

‘‘I went on from strength to strength from then,’’ he said.

He’s banked £34,000 so far and with a friend from Hopwood Cottage sponsoring him, he can pay his bills.

And afford a few rounds of the alcoholic kind last weekend — he held his stag party in Dublin.

Hamerton marries beauty therapist girlfriend Joanne at Bolton Trinity Church on November 24.

‘‘The best wedding card I want is for the Tour,’’ he added.