Eric West is confidently battling his way through the minor US tours in pursuit of his pro golf dream.

The former top junior has been playing on both the Gateway Tour and the California-based A.G. Spanos California tour as well as a series of independent tournaments across the States.

Although not as prestigious as the Canadian Tour, where fellow Bermudian Michael Sims plays, there is actually sometimes more money on offer on the mini-tours, although West has picked up just $953.75 on the Spanos Tour, where he lies 189th on the money list after making the cut only once in seven events.

West, who has twice attempted Canadian Tour qualifying ? including playing in the same event in which Sims picked up his Tour card ? has admitted he has ?tried too hard? in his rookie year as a pro.

?I think the last ten tournaments when I was an amateur, I didn?t finish out of the top ten,? said the confident 22-year-old, who has represented Bermuda in the World Amateur Team Championships.

?I have really enjoyed the challenge of playing in the pros . . . what used to be a good score won?t make the cut now. I have played with some fantastic players this year although I think I made the mistake of trying too hard when I first made the move to pro, I was trying to force my game too much and that worked against me.

?I have not played in any tournaments for a month or so now and am just taking things back to basics and trying to get my game back to where it was.

?I am 22, I know I won?t be peaking until I?m maybe 28 or 29 so I am just going to work on things slowly and see where it can get me.?

West, back in Bermuda to catch up with friends and family after months toiling in California and Florida, has a variety of sponsors behind him, most of them on three-year contracts and that is how long he is giving himself to ?make it?.

?With the sponsorship I have, I?ve got three years to try and make the most of the position I?m in. At that point the contracts are up for review and hopefully by then I will be in a position to push on and keep going,? said West, who appears surprisingly mature for a player so green in the world of pro golf.

?I am going to try and get on one of the bigger tours through qualifying schools, although there is good money to be made in Gateway and Hooters Tour events.?

West will have a third crack at Canadian Tour qualifying next month, although the one he really wants is the European Tour ? and he will be attempting to get through the first stage of the two-stage process in Italy.

?I don?t think I?m ready for the PGA Tour yet, it would be unrealistic for me to try and get through qualifying school,? said West matter-of-factly.

?And the fact that it costs about $4,000 doesn?t help either! The one I want is the European Tour. The Canadian Tour doesn?t pay great money ? there is probably more on some of the mini tours, but the European Tour would be my goal.

?But for now, I am just working on my game, not rushing anything and seeing where I get.?