CUMBERWELL Park professional Laurie Canter made an immediate impact as his 2016 European Tour season started in earnest in South Africa this morning.

The 26 year old, who plays out of the Cumberwell club in Bradford on Avon, carded a three under par round of 69 at the SA Open in Johannesburg to lie within striking distance of the early leaders.

Canter, who earned playing rights on the 2016 European Tour after finishing inside the top 25 at the qualifying school finals in Spain in November, had made the cut in his first two events of the 2016 schedule in South Africa and Australia in December.

And his good form showed no sign of abating as he made a spectacular start to his challenge at Glendower Golf Club in Gauteng.

Canter stormed out of the blocks in his opening nine holes, reaching the turn in 32, including an eagle at the long second hole and birdies at the fifth and eight.

His sole blemish of the day came with a bogey at the par four 10th, but the Cumberwell man parred home to lie inside the early top 10.

He was four shots behind the early pacesetter Jaco Van Zyl, who was on seven under par.