Qualifying School graduates Alastair Forsyth and James Heath led the way as the first round of the Joburg Open began at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.
Scot Forsyth, a two-time European Tour winner whose trip to PGA Catalunya in November represented an eighth Qualifying School appearance, carded six birdies in an outward 30 over the West Course to be the early pacesetter.
He was caught by England’s Heath, however, when the rookie added a birdie at the tenth to an outward 32 featuring an eagle three at the sixth over on the East Course.
The field are split between the East and West Courses for the first two rounds, before the action reverts to the East lay-out for the weekend.
Italy’s former Ryder Cup star Edoardo Molinari continued to put his recent injury troubles behind him by moving into a share of third place on five under par.
Having finished tied for ninth in Dubai last week, the former Challenge Tour winner was five under through 11 holes to sit alongside Ireland’s David Higgins and South Africans Drikus van der Walt, Justin Walters and Shaun Norris.
Aside from Heath, all of the top ten midway through the morning session were playing the traditionally easier West set-up.
