GRAEME STORM has got another year on the European Tour off to a strong start after finishing fourth at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane.

Storm, who retained his playing privileges despite finishing outside the top 110 when American Patrick Reed failed to play in the required number of events to qualify for his card, was keen to start the 2017 campaign well and he has done just that.

The Hartlepool pro recovered from a steady enough opening round one over par 73 to post three sub-par rounds to climb high up the leaderboard.

And after his five-under 67 on Friday put him in with a chance, he built on that by posting back to back 68s at the stunning Leopard Creek; a course he loves to play.

The only blip in his final round was a bogey at the Par 3 16th but that arrived after birdies at two, six, 11, 13 and 15. That earned him a 12 under total over the four days to finish tied fourth alongside Thomas Aiken, Scott Jamieson, Carlos Pigem, Benjamin Hebert and Charl Schwartzel.

To have 40,000 euros registered already in the Race to Dubai is a decent start by Storm, who is desperate for a better year after a couple of close run-ins at the end of the European Tour schedule.

South African Brandon Stone won the 190,000 euros prize by finishing ten shots ahead of Storm and seven ahead of second placed compatriot Richard Sterne. Belgium’s Thomas Detry was third on 13 under.