JORDAN Smith says that he feels the weight of pressure on every shot he takes right now as he gets to grips with his first full season as a professional.

But the Derry Hill player is relishing the challenges ahead after clinching an impressive result at the biggest competition of his short pro career so far last week.

On Sunday, the 22-year-old, who plays out of Bowood, was the top European finisher at the Dimension Data Pro-Am Sunshine Tour event in Fancourt, South Africa.

Smith (inset), who won the Brazabon Trophy and represented Great Britain and Ireland at the Walker Cup in 2013, finished joint-ninth overall after he finished seven under after his four rounds.

“My manager got me an invitation to the pro-am and luckily, a friend I went to college in Bristol with, Mike Younie, agreed to come out and caddy for me,” said Smith.

“I got out there on the Friday (February 13) and it didn’t start until the Thursday, so I had plenty of time to prepare properly.

“I was really happy with it but there’s just so much pressure on every shot now – I was just one shot off getting an automatic invite to the Joburg Open, which is going on this week, and that shows just how fine the margins are.

“It was a pro-am event with loads of celebrities there, like Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen and loads of South African cricketers and rugby players. I got paired with a multi-millionaire businessman, so that wasn’t too bad.

“I’d say that I turned pro towards the end of last season. There’s so much more pressure because you know that every shot can move you up the rankings and get you more money.

“It’s also a lot different being the small fish in a big pond where nobody knows who you are.”

Smith added: “I’m trying to get an invite to another Sunshine Tour event, which is the Africa Open (on March 6-8).

“I got to the second stage of European Tour qualifying but didn’t make it through, which was a bit disappointing, but I should be doing six-to-eight Challenge Tour events this year.

“I’ve also got Europro Tour qualifying in April, so there’s a lot to look forward to.”

Wiltshire man Smith, who is sponsored by MB Partners, this week gained another backer in building services provider Gratte Brothers.