STONEHAM professional Richard Bland gave his 2012 European Tour campaign early momentum by tying for 18th in the Africa Open.
The 38-year-old, pictured below, added a final round 72 (-1) to earlier efforts of 67, 69 and 69 to finish on -15 at East London Golf Club.
Bland made four birdies in yesterday’s round but, in the toughest conditions of the week, dropped two shots on the sixth and one on the 14th.
However, the Englishman picked up 10,864 Euros to lie in 15th place on the embryonic Race to Dubai standings.
Fellow Hampshire pro Sam Hutsby, who like Bland made a successful trip to Qualifying School last month, finished in 54th place after rounds of 73, 65, 72 and 72.
The 23-year-old won 3,520 Euros in prize money.
The event was won by Louis Oosthuizen with a 27-under total of 265.
Hutsby and Bland both play in this week’s Joburg Open which carries a first prize of more than 200,000 Euros.
