Wallie Coetsee was making the early running on home soil for the second time in three tournaments as the Tshwane Open began at Pretoria Country Club.
Coetsee led for much of the Joburg Open before being pipped by Andy Sullivan, but the 42 year old found himself two clear when play began as he raced to five under par.
The World Number 392, who won his second title on the co-sanctioning Sunshine Tour in Zambia last year 17 years after his first, started on the back nine and eagled the long 12th before picking up birdies at the 15th, 17th and second.
The home country was well represented on the leaderboard, with South Africans Lindani Ndwandwe and Chris Swanepoel joining England’s Robert Rock in second on three under.
Sullivan, looking to win his third title in South Africa this season, was level par through nine holes, while defending champion Ross Fisher was among the later starters.
