The 26-year-old’s profitable and enjoyable year on the Asian Tour peaked with a fifth-place finish in the Chiangmai Classic in Thailand, which featured a blistering round of 64.

Such results have paved the way for a potentially lucrative 2015 season, which will begin in February with the Maybank Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

‘‘It’s been a big learning curve but I played well to keep my card and really enjoyed the year,’’ Richardson told The Examiner.

‘‘The card gives you full playing rights on Asian Tour events with some events co-sanctioned with the European Tour so I’ve got the potential to play four or five of those.

‘‘My first three events of next year are bigger than anything I’ve played in 2014, the first one has a US$3 million purse so if you’re making the cut you’re making big money.’’ The former Riverside High student has been living on the Gold Coast since April but returned to Tasmania this week to visit his parents in Trevallyn and seized the chance to pop into Riverside Golf Club.

Richardson said he was pleased he decided to pursue his golfing dream. ‘‘It’s definitely starting to pay off. I had to make the call to focus solely on golf and playing well this year has given me a lot more opportunity to make a career out of it and there’s really good money to make.

 ‘‘I’m aiming at the top 300 because that gives opportunities to other events and try and get on US and European tours.’’