Michael Lorenzo-Vera was the early front runner during the opening round at the South African Open Championship as the Frenchman reached five under par after nine holes.
The 23 year old carded five birdies on the way out without dropping a shot to take an early one stroke lead over home favourites Albert Pistorius and Keith Horne at Pearl Valley Golf Estates.
Pistorius reached four under after 11 holes with Horne - tied for sixth at last weeks Alfred Dunhill Championship - through nine.
Six players were on three under and not surprisingly half of them were South African - only nine foreigners have ever won the world's second oldest Open Championship.
Alex Haindl, James Kamte and World Number 32 Rory Sabbatini were all going well to the delight of the locals, along with Englands Simon Dyson through 11 holes while Italian Alessandro Tadini and Paraguays Fabrizio Zanotti had played eight and five holes respectively.
