South Africa’s Oliver Bekker raced into an early lead as the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open began at Heritage Golf Club.
In the first event to be tri-sanctioned by The European Tour, Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour, it was a player from the latter in Bekker in front on five under par through 14 holes.
The 30 year old, three times a winner in his own country, turned in 33 thanks largely to an eagle on the long 18th.
A bogey on the second briefly checked his progress, but Bekker ran in a hat-trick of gains from the third – culminating in an approach to five feet at the fifth – to lead Dane Thorbjørn Olesen, England’s John Parry and Spain’s Borja Virto Astudillo by one.
Former amateur star Matt Fitzpatrick was part of the group on three under par, just two off the lead.
