Bushey golfer Callum Shinkwin made an encouraging start to his season after a four-under-par opening round at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Shinkwin posted a score of 68 which left him four shots behind leader Henrik Stenson after the Open champion’s eight-under-par opener.

The 23-year-old picked up his first shot of the day at the par five second hole before claiming a birdie two at the fourth.

But the Moor Park Golf Club professional dropped his first shot of the day with a bogey at the fifth.

Another bogey at the ninth saw Shinkwin turn in a level par 36.

The 23 -year-old picked up a shot at the par five tenth but then gave it back on the par three 12th hole.

But a strong finish to his round saw him pick up four shots in the space of his last five holes.

Shinkwin birdied three holes in a row, starting at the 14th before a par at the next.

A promising first day back on the European Tour was rounded off with a birdie at the par five 18th hole.

Shinkwin finished 83rd in the Race to Dubai last season after recording two top-ten finishes.