Southampton-based golfers Richard Bland and Matthew Blackey have the chance to make some serious money in this week's highly lucrative Dubai Desert Classic - but both men have some work to do yet to avoid going home empty handed.

Bland made a rousing finish to his first round at the Emirates GC to leave himself a good chance of beating today's halfway cut, but his Bassett neighbour Blackey will have to shoot in the 60s to save his skin.

Currently 118th in the Volvo Order of Merit with only £10,600 banked from six tournaments, Stoneham tournament professional Bland made a messy start.

A double bogey five at the short fourth was slightly retrieved by a birdie at the next then Bland went on a nightmare run of three successive bogies.

Some urgent repair work was required and he picked up shots at four of his last ten holes for a level par total of 72 and a tie for 58th place.

Twice winner on the Challenge Tour last year, Blackey is 96th in the order of merit with just over £14,000 and his chances of adding to that are slim after a three-over 75 left him tailed off in 130th place.

The Hayling Islander was on damage limitation going down the finishing stretch and picked up birdies at the 17th and 18th to give himself a slight ray of hope.

The earlier part of his round was best forgotten with seven bogies. The fact that he was still able to pick up four shots will hopefully have Blackey dwelling on the positive before he starts his second round later today.

Ernie Els, who has swept all before him on the European Tour this season, was second at six-under par, one shot behind first round leader Alastair Forsyth from Scotland.