GLASGOW'S Craig Ross is hoping to produce more amateur dramatics this week as he seeks a Highland fling among the professionals at Macdonald Spey Valley in Aviemore.

The Kirkhill youngster is one of a number of invited players from the unpaid game competing alongside the cream of the pros of the second tier of European golf in the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge.

Ross caused a major stir the last time he played in a professional event when he won on the PGA EuroPro Tour at Mar Hall near Erskine in 2014.

This week’s appearance on the European Challenge Tour will give Ross the opportunity to test himself at an even higher level, and the 22-year-old is relishing the chance to shine again on home soil.

Ross said: “People keep saying to me that I must like these pro events as I’ve played in only one and won one. This is a week to look forward to. The EuroPro Tour was tough, but this is another big step up for me.

"I will certainly respect the field. There are a lot of very good players coming through on the Challenge Tour, plus the line-up has plenty of former European Tour players.

“Hopefully I can put in a good performance. I’ll be turning pro at some stage and this in another stepping stone towards that.”

Following this event at Spey Valley, Ross will attempt to qualify for the Scottish Open in the 36-hole shoot-out next weekend.

Ross is joined in the field in Aviemore by a host of other local hopefuls, including former Challenge Tour winner Andrew McArthur and reigning Scottish PGA champion Chris Kelly.

Bradley Neil, the Blairgowrie teenager who played in the Open, the Masters and the US Open as a reward for winning the 2014 Amateur Championship, makes his pro debut.