Mark Hilton and Ryan Fenwick are making slow but steady progress on the first tortuous rungs of the tournament ladder.

It is a year since Mark took the decision to play the minor tours while Ryan changed status barely six weeks ago.

This week Ryan pocketed his biggest cheque after finishing runner-up in the Europro 2000 event at Pleasington. The £2,000 eased his worries about finding the £900 entry fee for the Tour School.

Two top-ten finishes in three tourneys have made Ryan feel that his decision to play for a living isn't at all bad. Shooting 66 and 69 at Pleasington was good, but not quite good enough as he finished two strokes behind the winner.

Then it was off home to Bognor down the M6 with good friend Mark Hilton whose 141 (68, 73) left him in seventh spot.

Reflecting on his first year in the paid ranks, Hilton said: "My game is definitely improving.

"I have learned that a lot of patience is needed. I'm a bit disappointed that I haven't won anything yet but I picked up 3,000 dollars on the Teardrop Tour in America and have had a couple of cheques for about £1,400 each."

On the eve of the Open qualifying Mark started using a new set of clubs.

He need have no regrets about his stab at qualifying for the Open. Although he didn't make it to St Andrews, he was 11 under par for the three qualifying rounds. That only goes to show how desperately tough it is to make the starting line-up proper.

Yet only two years ago Mark gave Sergio Garcia a run for his money in the Amateur championship.

Such are the fortunes of the game that the Spaniard was well placed at St Andrews until falling away to 286 over the last two rounds and 17 strokes adrift of Tiger Woods.

For Mark and Ryan and a host of others at various courses around the country, pre-qualifying presented a huge hurdle. On flooded greens at Camberley Heath, Mark shot 69. This sent him to the next stage at Leven Links where he missed out by one shot.

Yet 68 and 67 could hardly be described as high scoring. Unfortunately for Mark his 135 left him in a grim tussle for a nine-man play-off contesting two spots.

That 68, by the way, included a couple of three-putts and a lost ball. Mark should take heart from the fact that his game was strong enough to fire four birdies on the back nine.

Lower down the order at Leven came Fenwick on 138 (68, 70) after making the pre-qualifying with 69 alongside Bognor assistant Christian Fogden at Hindhead.

Mark learned his golf at Lewes as did younger brothers Henry and Tony who now carry the family tradition for Sussex.