Matt Wallace’s competitive experience of his third European Tour event has got off to a steady start despite a somewhat disappointing end to his first round at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The Moor Park Golf Club professional fired an even-par 72 at the first of the double header start to the new European Tour season and lies in a share of 47th place at the time of writing, five shots behind current leader Brandon Stone of South Africa.

For much of his back nine though, the 26-year-old looked set to be higher up the leaderboard after he made his way to the 16th on two-under-par. However, the Pinner-based professional dropped a shot at that par three and followed it up with another bogey at the par four 17th to leave him on level-par after the opening 18 holes.

The winner of this year’s Alps Tour following victories in six events received an invite to the Alfred Dunhill and got off to a good start with birdies on the par five second and par four sixth to move to two-under.

His first bogey came at the par four eighth before he experienced an up-and-down start to his back nine, with birdies on the par four 10th and par three 12th either side of a dropped shot on the par four 11th.

Wallace, who has qualified to compete on the Challenge Tour in 2017 following his memorable exploits on the satellite tour, previously received European Tour invites to the Nordea Masters and Lyoness Open in June.

The new European Tour season has started with the Alfred Dunhill being staged simultaneously alongside the Australian PGA Championship.