DORSET ace Sophie Keech is targeting a Ladies European Tour card after deciding to bring the curtain down on a hugely successful amateur career by turning professional.

Keech is currently playing in the WPGA International Challenge, the final tournament of the LET Access Series, at Stoke-by-Nayland in Suffolk in what is her first event as a pro.

The 19-year-old Parkstone member, who used to play out of Lyme Regis, will be heading to Morocco at the end of this month to take part in pre-qualifying for a place on the European tour.

Speaking about her decision to make the step up, Keech, coach by Millfield School’s Karen Nicholls, told Echosport: “Last year I moved from girls’ to ladies’ golf in the amateurs and I was just going to see how it would go this year.

“After the English match play (which Keech won in July) my coach said I was ready to turn pro and I felt it was the right time to do it, I didn’t feel I had anything to lose.

“I’d been an amateur for a while, was second in the English rankings, and I always want to push myself, so I’m going to be a small fish in a big pond now.”

Keech is also looking for sponsorship as she bids to take her game to the next level.

“If I get through pre-qualifying I have to go back in December for final tour qualifying,” she added.

"If I do well I'll get a European tour card, if not I'll play on the LET Access tour next year.”