BRADFORD on Avon’s Cumberwell Park Golf Club has blazed a trail across the golfing world this week, with two of its professionals securing landmark career results to earn starts in the first event of the European Tour’s 2016 season.

Laurie Canter and Steve Surry teed up in the first round of the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa yesterday, alongside the likes of major champions Charl Schwarzel and Louis Oosthuizen, after stellar performances in their previous tournaments.

Canter’s success at the European Tour qualifying school finals last week could prove life-changing.

The 26-year-old finished inside the top 25 in the six-round event in Girona, Spain, earning him playing rights for the 2016 European Tour.

Then on Sunday, 33-year-old Surry joined his friend in the €1.5million South African event after equalling his best finish on southern Africa’s Sunshine Tour.

The Trowbridge player finished tied second at the Lion Of Africa Cape Town Open, also boosting his hopes of retaining a top-grade Sunshine Tour card for next season.

After several years on minor tours both in this country and on the continent since turning professional in 2011, Canter can now look forward to teeing it up alongside some of the planet’s elite throughout next year.

The Bath-born player started using Cumberwell’s practice facilities seven years ago and insists his achievement would not have been possible without the club’s help, including them paying for his Q School entry.

“To be honest it’s been something I’ve been working towards for a long time so I don’t really know whether it’s sunk in yet,’’ he said of his achievement.

“I’m still at that stage so I haven’t really looked at the task ahead of me. I’m just really enjoying the high and haven’t thought too much about it.

“Ali (James), who runs the golf side of things (at Cumberwell) has always been amazing with me, since I was coming through as an amateur really.

“They put up the money for my Q School entry this year so without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to even take part. They’ve been absolutely brilliant.’’ Canter’s new playing privileges will allow him access to as many as 20 events on the European Tour, his first being this week’s event, which kicked off the 2016 campaign.

He then heads to Australia, along with Surry, for the Australian PGA Championship in Queensland and added: “It’s been good to have people like Steve spurring me on and hopefully this (qualification) will help him too.”

Surry admitted his Cape Town success was a welcome boost after two missed cuts, raising hopes of not only renewing his Sunshine Tour privileges for 2016 but earning him entries into further events co-sanctioned with the European Tour.

He delivered a magnificent performance in his final two rounds, shooting 68 and 67 for his best Tour finish since the Nedbank Affinity Cup two years.

“It was a well-timed week and I needed it really,’’ he said. “I was nowhere on the Order of Merit really but now I’ve got a chance to get fully exempt for next year and I’ve never been into all the co-sanctioned events.

“I’m at 63rd (on the Order of Merit) but there are a few guys to come off that, so if I can have a good result this week hopefully I can move up.’’ “This (the Alfred Dunhill Championship) is the biggest event on the Sunshine Tour, so I can go from having a not-so-great year to a very good year if I do well.’’ After linking up with Canter for practice ahead of yesterday’s tournament start, Surry added: “Laurie has done great and it’s nice I can join him this week and in Australia.

“He’ll be off playing a lot of big tournaments and it’s great to see one of your mates doing that and it gives you the belief that you can do it too “I don’t think Cumberwell has ever had two players in the same European Tour event. But the club has been fantastic with everyone supporting us.’’ News of Canter and Surry’s progress at the Alfred Dunhill Championship see wiltshiretimes.co.uk/sport, plus more from Canter on his European Tour success in next week’s Wiltshire Times