RICHARD Bland faces a battle to make the cut in his first European Tour event of the season.

The Stoneham-pro shot an opening round of two-over-par at the Joburg Open, in South Africa, today.

That has left him tied for 155th, needing to pick up a couple of shots in Friday's second round at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

Bland endured an up and down day, putting himself in difficulty by bogeying the fifth and double-bogeying the 11th.

He then produced birdies at the 12th and 16th, but his day ended on a sour note with a six on the par-five 18th.