Hayling Island's Matt Blackey got his European Tour career up and running at the second time of asking with a joint 11th place finish in the Omega Hong Kong Open yesterday.

Blackey, who qualified for his card after finishing third on the Challenge Tour last year, had missed the cut in his first event, the Asian Open, last week.

But he bounced back with a ten-under-par total of 266 at Fanling - joint with six-time major champion Nick Faldo and fellow Englishman Jamie Spence - to boost his confidence for the season.

Faldo had started the day just four behind the leaders and, but for a mid-round blip, did well to stay in touch, emphasising just how well Blackey performed.

Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson, six times a runner-up on the tour, finally hit the jackpot as a final round of 64 gave him a two-shot win, securing the $113,050 first prize with a 16-under-par total of 260.

Jacobson was two clear of compatriot Henrik Nystrom and Argentinian Jorge Berendt to bag a playing exemption that will take him up to the end of the 2005 season.