Former Bradford Open champion Paul Thomas will be back in the ranks of the amateurs when the golf season gets under way in April.

And the 19-year-old West Bradford member admits it will be a relief to be back playing in club competitions after failing to make it as a professional.

Thomas made the big step into the pro ranks last year and was helped by the backing of many Bradford people who were inspired by the story of his attempt to hit the big-time.

But he admitted: "It was far harder and far more expensive than I had ever imagined.

"I had to fork out more than a £1,000 in membership fees before I had even started just to be able to play in competitions.

"It meant that despite the generous help of the individuals who sponsored me I had run out of money in six months.

"There was an awful lot of travelling involved and with overnight accommodation it proved to be very expensive.

"It would have cost around £15,000 to get through the whole year entering all the competitions and unless you are winning prize money every week it is almost impossible.

"As it was I only collected cheques in two competitions.

"It was something I felt I had to do, but I wouldn't particularly recommend it to anyone else."

Thomas won the 1998 Bradford Open at Bingley St Ives in a play-off with Keighley assistant professional Andy Rhodes at Bingley St Ives and decided to take his chance as a professional 18 months later. He appealed for individuals to buy shares in his prospects and was pleased with the response he had, but added: "It did put a bit of pressure on me to do well for them.

"But I don't feel I played at all well all year.

"I didn't realise how much was involved and all the travelling didn't help."

Thomas, who played for West Bradford in their team championship winning sides for three years in a row from 1997-9, knows he will not find it easy to get back in the Scratch team.

"We are likely to have a very strong line-up this year according to all the rumours I have been hearing.

"That means we will be able to put up a good challenge to champions Northcliffe and there will be plenty of competition for places.

"First of all I have got to get my handicap, which means putting in three competition cards, but hopefully that should be sorted by April."

In the meantime, he has resumed his former job as a car mechanic, working at a Leeds garage.