Rookie Tom McKibbin brilliantly celebrated his first event as a full DP Tour card member in posting a sizzling closing nine of 30 to share 18th place at the Joburg Open.

The Holywood club’s newest star bagged five closing nine birdies, including four in succession, in a round of 66 for a nine-under tally on the Houghton club course in the South African capital.

England’s Dan Bradbury, and in only a second DP World event, fired a closing day 67 to win by three shots at 21-under and also earn himself a tee-time into next July’s 151st Open.

Tour rookie Tom McKibbin storming home on the back of a closing nine or 30. (Photo – Getty)

McKibbon earned his full DP Tour card in finishing top-25 on the secondary Challenge Tour and there was no hiding his delight after a first event at Europe’s top level.

“It was a very good way to finish. It was nice to shoot 66 and climb up the leaderboard, especially after yesterday so yeah, pretty nice,” said McKibbin.

“It was a solid enough week, a pretty good first week. Yesterday it was a little tough being up early and I was feeling pretty tired towards the end of the round so that maybe got to me a little bit. I’m very tired after this week, a lot of disruptions and some early mornings but the game feels pretty solid.”

McKibbin will remain in the altitude of Joburg for this week’s South African Open.

“I seem to play well here. I don’t really know what it is but I definitely seem to play well around these courses,” he said.

“I enjoy the golf and the altitude I have a pretty good handle on it.

“I’m looking forward to next week I’ve heard good things about the course, heard it’s pretty long so I’m looking forward to getting over there and assessing the challenge.”