NICK Dougherty passed the final test for of this week's PGA European Tour School after heeding advice from Justin Rose.

''He told me not to try to be a hero by going flat out to win but to just to get the job done and make sure I did not make any silly mistakes,'' said 19-year-old Chorley-based Dougherty.

In the event, he cleared the second-stage qualifier in Spain with three shots to spare, but he has had no time to bask in reflected glory because the final part of the trilogy starts on Wednesday in the same country.

Rose, who turned professional the day after finishing fourth in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1998 at the age of 18, has struck up a friendship with Dougherty who joined him in the paid ranks after famously helping Great Britain and Ireland retain the Walker Cup in the United States in August.

''We've played a few rounds together and he's passed on a lot of tips,'' said Dougherty who made few mistakes as he posted a seven-under-par four round total.

Dougherty is regarded as such hot property that he will receive unlimited invites to the main European tour from sponsors.

''My goal this week is to win,'' he added. ''The better you do the better the card but I'll take each round as they come.''