A STRONG finish from Graeme Storm has earned the chance of making the cut in his first European Tour event of the year.

Storm had started sloppily at the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni when he followed up a bogey at the fifth with a double bogey at the sixth.

He recovered, however, by posting four birdies in his last 11 to climb back up to tied 52nd on level par with a 72 which also included a further bogey at the 12th.

The Hartlepool pro is the best placed northern golfer on show in Johannesburg and is three shots better off than York’s Simon Dyson.

Dyson, playing in his first tournament since wrist surgery eight months ago, got off to a dreadful start with five bogeys in his first nine holes, but he birdied a couple after the turn to climb back up to 107th.

Harrogate’s John Parry fared even worse by shooting a 79 and will start the second round knowing he needs to turn on the magic just to make the weekend.

South African Jaco van Zyl leads the way on seven under after his impressive 65 set the pace after day one.