Rookie Professional Todd Sinnott played his first career Challenge Tour event courtesy of an invite to the Turkish Airlines Challenge last week but a final round 80 spoiled what had otherwise been a promising performance.

The big hitting Victorian has no official status on any Tour but with the help of internationally respected agent Chubby Chandler has secured invites to several European Tour tournaments this year.

While he has made the cut in all but one start since joining the pay for play ranks Sinnott is yet to play his best over the course of four rounds but his 8-over final round this week, to go with rounds of 72-71 and 70, was his worst by five shots.

An eventual 62nd place finish was less than he would have hoped for but as with any first year Professional all tournament play is valuable experience.

Former amateur standout Matthew Stieger also received an invite to play in Turkey but, like Sinnott, wasn’t at his best for the week.

The former Australian amateur champion has found the going tough since turning Professional in 2012, a solid 2013 season followed by disappointing results, and a lost Asian Tour card, last year.

In just his third year as a Professional Stieger is a better player than his current run of form suggests and while finishing last in Turkey won’t have been the result he was hoping for it is an important part of the learning process.