SOUTHAMPTON’S Richard Bland has pitched up in the top ten after the first round of the BMW PGA Championship.

Bland shot three-under-par at Wentworth to move into a share of seventh, three shots behind overnight leader Danny Willett.

Although he struggled off the tee early, the Stoneham golfer didn’t drop a shot on the front nine.

Birdies at the par-five fourth hole and the par-four seventh put him two-under at the turn.

Another birdie followed at 11, before Bland gave a shot back at the next.

A missed short putt at 15 that cost him another shot was one of few points of frustration for Bland.

However, he produced an excellent finish, capitalising on great approach shots to 16 and 17 to move back to three-under.

“It felt pretty good,” Bland said afterwards.

“All week I’ve been hitting it really good on the range and I warmed up really well, then sort of struggled off the tee a little bit early.

“But I kind of hung in there and made a couple of really good pars when I needed to.

“Then I just started feeling a bit better and I putted pretty good.

“Even though I wasn’t hitting it great early off the tee it wasn’t disastrous.

“I was always there or thereabouts.

“It’s just a good start, that’s all it is at the minute.”