World Number 1,214 Nikhil Rama insists he has the confidence to compete against the very best after firing an opening 65 at the Joburg Open.
The South African achieved his best DP World Tour career result at Houghton Golf Club last season, finishing 33rd as he made his first cut at the sixth time of asking.
He is in the field this week courtesy of a tie for fourth at the recent Vodacom Origins of Golf Finals, which matched his best result on the Sunshine Tour.
It is fair to say that modest CV would not have seen him arrive as one of the favourites this week but he put on a brilliant show to get to five under and sit just three shots off the 18-hole lead.
"Coming into this week the goal is to make the cut but I know I can compete on any tour," he said. "I've been playing well lately so I'm looking forward to the rest of the week.
"Top five qualifying at Pezula two weeks ago. It's a great feeling to be here not going through qualifiers, there's a lot of pressure to do that. I'm happy to be here now.
"I was just enjoying myself out there with my caddie Shannon, it's just great fun."
The 22-year-old made a birdie-birdie-birdie start from the tenth and then added two further gains on the 17th and 18th to turn in 30.
Birdies on the first and fifth sandwiched dropped shots on the second and fourth and he held the lead for most of the day before Thriston Lawrence's stunning 62 saw him overtaken.
"Started on the back nine and came in with five birdies, it was just solid," he said. "I had a couple more chances out there but you give and you get.
"Two dropped shots: one short putt that I missed and then I just hit off the tee in the trees and it was a good five in the end, a chip and a one-putt."
