DAVID Howell was unable to build on a flying start at the Tshwane Open this afternoon as he had to settle for a level-par opening round of 71 in South Africa.

Swindon golfer Howell posted three birdies in his first six holes at Pretoria County Club in Waterkloof but was unable to remain in red figures by the time he returned to the clubhouse in a tie for 65th place.

Jordan Smith led the way amongst the four Wiltshire golfers in action at the event, with the Bowood player recording a two-under first round of 69.

Laurie Canter shot a two-over 73, while fellow Cumberwell Park man Steve Surry was well down the field after opening up his tournament with a five-over round of 76.

For Howell, things started positively as the 41-year-old bids to make just his second cut on the European Tour this year as he birdied the very first hole.

The Broome Manor man then moved to two-under with another birdie at the third and although that was swiftly given away at the next, Howell was able to claim a third birdie of the day at the sixth.

However, that was as good as it got for the two-time Ryder Cup winner as another bogey at the eighth saw him reach the turn at one-under.

Howell surrendered another shot at the 11th hole to slip back to even for the day and he was unable to improve from there until the finish, closing out his round with a run of seven pars in succession.

Home player Haydn Porteous currently leads the way in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard on six-under, alongside Frenchman Gregory Havret and Alexander Bjork, of Sweden, after the trio all opened up with rounds of 65.

Howell will get his second round under way at 5.30am GMT tomorrow, teeing off at the 10th hole alongside South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Spaniard Nacho Elvira.