A SUPERB top 10 finish at last week’s Madrid Open ensured Ashford’s Benn Barham will be competing on the European Tour again next year.

The 31-year-old, who is attached to Chart Hills at Biddenden, finished a terrific joint seventh in Madrid to put him in the top 100 of the European Order of Merit.

He is having his best ever season on the European Tour having turned pro in 1996 and made his Tour debut in 2000.

Barham is on course to record his best ever season on the European Tour with his previous best season of 97th in the Order of Merit last season.

He finished eight under at Madrid after three rounds of 71 and finishing with a superb 67.

He has been having a hot run of form after he tied 11th at the British Masters with six under and a 10-under at the Deutsche Bank Players Championship of Europe in Hamburg which earned him a tied 15th place.

His best ever finish on the Tour was a fourth in the Scottish PGA Championship in 2000 but he has also won twice on the Challenge Tour.