Richard Bland has enjoyed a solid start to his Turkish Airlines Open campaign, shooting one-under-par in his first round.

The Stoneham ace is competing in the penultimate event of the European Tour’s Final Series, as he bids to earn a place in the DP World Tour Championship.

Bland is currently 65th in the order of merit, and needs to climb into the top 60 if he is to make it into next week’s season climax, in Dubai.

He produced a decent first day in Antalya, with three birdies on the back nine helping him to a one-under-par 71.

That has given Bland a share of 46th place in the 78-man field, ahead of tomorrow’s second round.

Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez leads on nine-under.