STONEHAM'S Richard Bland made an excellent start to his first event of the year, carding a four-under-par 68 in the opening round of the co-sanctioned Joburg Open in South Africa.
The 32-year-old, who recorded his best finish (72nd) on the European Tour Order of Merit in 2006, started with a bogey but hit back immediately with birdies at the second and third holes.
Further birdies at five and 12 shot him up the leaderboard before a dropped shot on 16 halted his momentum.
However, the Englishman once again bounced back, picking up shots on his final two holes to be in a tie for 13th with half the field still out on the course.
Home player Warren Abery was setting the pace on eight under.
James Rose's golf round-up returns on Tuesday in the Daily Echo.
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