STEVE Richardson made just the start he needed to lay down a launch pad for a successful pass out of European Tour School at the end of the week.

The 35-year-old former Ryder Cup player from Lee-on-Solent is playing in the final qualifying round for the fourth year running.

Each year, he has finished among the top 40 golfers who secure their playing rights at this torturous examination of golfing skill and nerve.

This year, only the top 35 and ties at the end of the six-day event will earn their cards and. as Richardson and his rivals on the Costa del Sol will tell you: "It's one step at a time out here."

The three-times European Your winner negotiated his first step safely enough with just the odd stumble along the way.

Richardson now lives in Hayling Island, where one of his neighbours is another European Tour campaigner, Matt Blackey.

The two men often practice together and they were both relatively close on the first round leaderboard.

Richardson carded a two-under- par 70 for a share of 11th place at San Roque and, a few miles down the ocean highway at Sotogrande, Blackey posted a level-par 72 to join a huge log-jam in a tie for 24th place.

Jason Banting, Richardson's coach, said his man had rediscovered his golf game enough to negotiate Tour School, and the player didn't let him down.

Eight under for his last tournament in Italy and one under for his two previous events in Germany and France, Richardson kept the good habits going.

He teed off at the tenth hole and went through the turn in three under before coming to the short third, where he missed the green and paid dearly with a double bogey.

But the fighting qualities which still burn bright in Richardson despite five turbulent years on the European Tour came shining through as he picked up another shot before the finish.

Blackey missed his card by one shot last year and doesn't want to make any mistakes this time round.

Despite three top-ten finishes on the main tour this summer, the man coached at Botley Park by Tim Barter had to negotiate the second stage of qualifying school in Northern Spain last week.

It meant surviving a frenzied last day when the gales blew and another Hampshire hopeful, Martin Le Mesurier, agonisingly missed out by one shot.

Blackey will know he could have done better than his 72 at Sotogrande yesterday, but this is his fifth crack at Final Tour School and he's prepared for what lies ahead.

Dorset players Shaun Webster, Lee James and Lee Thompson had a mixed day.

Webster was in great shape in second place at San Roque, where he carded a 68, but James was trailing down the field with 76.

Over at Sotogrande, Thomspon was well down, too, after a 74.