Nick Cullen has launched his 2018 European Challenge Tour campaign in solid fashion with a top-25 finish at the first event of the season in Kenya.

Cullen led home the four strong Australian challenge at the Barclays Kenya Open, his 5-under total for the 72 holes at the Muthaiga CC in Nairobi seeing him into a share of 25^th position.

The 2014 Australian Masters winner showed great composure to birdie three of his final five holes on Sunday and salvage an even par 71 from what looked likely to be an over par effort.

While he will be disappointed to have slid six places in the standings on the final day it was a solid performance after a period of little golf and will give him some confidence moving forward.

Jack Munro, Ash Hall and Ben Eccles were the other Australians to make the trip to Africa with only Munro surviving to the weekend.

He finished a shot further back from Cullen and T28, the highlight of his week a third round 67.

Eccles and Hall both finished well outside the cut line after struggling in the opening two rounds.