By DAVID COULTER

Published at 07:42, Wednesday, 19 December 2012

DESPITE his debut as a European Tour golfer being delayed by two days, Mickley’s Chris Paisley made his mark with a top 40 finish.

Chris Paisley was among the top 10 English finishers.

The former Stocksfield Golf Club member ended up joint 39th in the Nelson Mandela Championship, in South Africa, when play finally got under way due to heavy rainfall in Royal Durban.

After a remarkable season saw him qualify from the Challenge Tour to play alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, his opener last week was fraught with frustration.

Rounds one and two were abandoned due to heavy rainfall to leave Paisley sweating over his debut even longer than planned.

But he did not allow his frustration get the better of him, a total of -1 giving the 26-year-old a solid start to life on the European Tour.

His first round on the tour saw him shoot a +1 score of 66 but he recovered in time for the second round by securing a respectable 63 for a final score of 129.

That saw him finish in the top 10 English competitors and pick up a cheque for 4,200 euros.

He said: “I was happy to make the top 65 and get my first pay cheque of the season. I didn't putt very well but I can have no complaints.”

Next up for Paisley is an appearance at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, at Leopard Creek, South Africa, due to start yesterday and ending on Sunday.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk