GWENT'S globetrotting golfing ace Liam Bond is back and looking to build on his great start to 2008 after a good showing at South Africa's Joburg Open.

The Chepstow's Marriott St Pierre professional enjoyed a creditable top 30 finish at the Royal Johan-nesburg and Kensington Golf Club on the weekend after a final round of 69.

Bond finished joint 25th with previous rounds of 70, 71 and 70 in a tournament won by South African Richard Sterne, who beat compatriot Garth Mulroy and Swede Magnus Carlsson in a three-way play-off.

Bond, who lives in Langstone, Newport, is hoping to take his good form with him when he flies to Jakarta for next month's Astro Indonesian Open.

The 37-year-old, originally from Southport in Lancashire, said: "I really enjoyed the Joburg Open, it was nice to play in the sunshine for a change and not be freezing like it is over here.

"I played steadily over all four days and it was actually raining and quite cold for Johannesburg for the first two days.

"It was like a home from home but then it was really nice after the temperature shot up to 30 degrees."

On his plans for the next 12 months, Bond said: "My aim is to play in as many European Tour events as I can and I should get into quite a few this year - I just have to see what comes."

Bond, who narrowly missed out on winning the European Challenge Tour's Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata in Italy last April, said: "I played quite nicely last year and played in 12 to 15 events but if I'm not playing, I can fill in on the Challenge Tour."

He has an outside chance of playing in the Emaar-MGF Indian Masters in Delhi between February 7 and 10 before he packs his bags again for the Astro Indonesian Open at the end of next month.