THORPE Hall Golf Club members Richard McEvoy and Matt Southgate will be looking to build on their fine form when the Portugal Masters gets underway today.

McEvoy and Southgate go into the latest PGA European Tour event, which is being held at Vilamoura’s Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, having impressed at the KLM Open last time out.

The Shoebury-based McEvoy tied for 15th place in the Netherlands and, as a result, returned to south Essex with close to £20,000 to show for his efforts.

McEvoy registered rounds of 67, 71, 64 and 73 to finish nine under par.

The 39-year-old has won close to £500,000 having competed in 15 events during an unforgettable season which saw him secure his first European Tour title.

Southgate, meanwhile, is in Portugal’s Algarve after tying for 24th spot in the KLM Open.

A total of 277 strokes from the four rounds saw Southgate finish seven under par.

Like fellow Thorpe Hall member McEvoy, Southgate has enjoyed a season to remember.

Since competing in the world-renowned US Open for the first time in his career, Southgate has finished no lower than 67th place in the last eight competitions.

Southgate, who is also the chairman of non-league football side Leigh Ramblers, has also pocketed prize money thanks to fine performances in each of his last nine outings.

His latest haul came at the KLM Open, where Southgate earned more than £16,000 in winnings.

The Southend-born professional golfer will tee off in Portugal at 8am, when he will be joined by Spaniard Nacho Elvira and Scotland’s Scott Jamieson.

McEvoy will kick-off his Portugal Masters outing 20 minutes later alongside fellow Englishman Ross Fisher and Haotong Li, of China.