LAURIE Canter earned a timely confidence boost ahead of the Shot Clock Masters in Austria this weekend by finishing T36 at the Italian Open in Brescia.

Canter, who shot 10-under over the four days, was only called up to feature in Italy on the Sunday night prior to the tournament’s first day of competition on Thursday.

His lack of time to prepare proved no hindrance though, as he shot rounds of 63, 72, 71 and 68 to pocket more than £35,000.

Canter, who is based at the Cumberwell Park club near Bradford on Avon, said: “I got a call Sunday night. A member of the European Tour staff was up late on a bank holiday Sunday and he gave me a ring and told me I was in the event.

“That was a nice bonus. I was just putting some meat on the barbecue, I was over the moon.

“You try and play your best every event, but obviously it’s nice if you do get into an event like this and you put yourself in a position to play well and have a good finish come Sunday.”

The 28-year-old, who has come through Q-School – to determine whether players make it onto the European Tour – three times was particularly pleased with his approach play.

Accurate putting throughout also helped Canter’s cause as he eyes further success in Austria this weekend, where Cumberwell clubmate Steve Surry and East Knoyle’s Ben Stow are also featuring in the Shot Clock Masters.

He said: “I just got my shots really close, and then a nice shot from the left semi into the par five seventh, a straight forward eagle putt. Everything just happened.

“Nothing was forced. It was there, and I hit some nice shots.

“I’ve had times in the past where I’ve got two under, three under, four under par and as good as that is out here, that doesn’t often make that much of a dent (on the tour).’’

He added: “I think you’ve got to just try and stay out of your own way as much as possible and keep focusing on that next shot - the old clichés, everyone falls back on them and that’s all I try to do.”