Sam Horsfield was happy to finally get some reward from his play as he secured a bye into the second round on Sunday at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.
The Englishman came through all three stages to win the Qualifying School in November but had made just one of his four cuts in 2018 as he arrived at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.
Rounds of 68 and 72 meant he comfortably made the first cut in Western Australia and another round of 68 on Saturday secured him a top eight finish as the stroke play concluded.
The 21 year old will go straight into the last 16 of the six hole knockout match play on Sunday and was delighted to be at the business end of a European Tour event for the first time.
"I've been playing pretty good for a while now," he said. "I think winning Q-School gave me a lot of confidence.
"I haven't been quite getting the results but I knew to myself that it was coming and hopefully it's this week, but there's still a lot of golf to go tomorrow.
"It's different, I've never played anything like it. The strategy might be a little different compared to, say, 18-hole match play, but I don't think a lot of people have done it except the guys who have played since this format started.
"I think you've just got to go out there, play good and make a ton of birdies."
Thorbjørn Olesen finished two shots ahead of Horsfield to also secure his place in the last 16.
I haven't been quite getting the results but I knew to myself that it was coming - Sam Horsfield
The Dane led by two at the turn and while he was overhauled by Thai Prom Meesawat, he was pleased with his day's work at a course where he won in 2014.
"I came right out of the block and played well, especially the first few holes," he said. "It's always nice to start well, especially when it's this windy and it's very tricky.
"So a few bad shots on the back nine and a few bad putts but that's easy to do when it's this windy.
"I love this place, I love the golf course. So yeah, that's a big goal tomorrow, it would be really nice to [win] again.
"I don't mind it being windy, if I can just stay focused and stay concentrated, and normally I play well in the wind so I wouldn't mind that."
