Alfred Dunhill Championship - Day one digest

Everything you need to know from day one at Leopard Creek Country Club.

Burmester put on a show for his home fans while Simonsen got a hole-in-one during the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from day one at Leopard Creek Country Club.

Nemecz loving life at Leopard Creek

Lukas Nemecz is making his tournament debut this week but it did not take the Austrian long to fall in love with Leopard Creek. He began his first round with a hat-trick of birdies before bouncing back from a bogey on the seventh with further gains at the eighth, tenth, 13th and 15th. His opening 66 leaves him one shot off the lead after 18 holes. Speaking about the venue, he said: "I don't think words can describe it. It's just very special, it's amazing. I'm obviously loving it on the golf course and off the golf course."

Els bounces back

Four-time Major Champion Ernie Els did not get off to the best of starts on Thursday morning, following up a double bogey on the tenth - his first hole - with a bogey at the 11th. But his recovery was absolutely sensational. The home hero birdied the short 12th before reeling off four birdies in five holes from the 14th to get back in the red numbers. Els then covered the homeward nine in 35 to sign for a two-under-par 70.

Brilliance from Burmester

Dean Burmester put on a show for his home crowd on day one, producing some magnificent iron shots and putts on the back nine on his way to an opening 65. He leads by one on seven under par. Check out his second shot at the long 13th...

And this approach at the 17th, which he very nearly holed...

No putter required for Välimäki 

Sami Välimäki was one over par after three holes but bounced back in style with an eagle at the par-four fourth. His approach shot from the fairway landed a few inches from the hole before diving into the cup for a stunning two.

Chasing the ace

Martin Simonsen managed to make an ace at the short fifth, holing a nine iron from 167 yards. And there were a few close calls at the par-three 16th, too. Thriston Lawrence's marvellous tee-shot slid just past the hole but somehow didn't drop...