Johannesburg: Jamie Elson, Eddy Holland and Henric Sturehed all eagled the 18th en route to matching four-under 68s to sit two shots off the pace after the opening round of the Jo’burg City Masters at Country Club Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The amazing coincidence moved the Mena Tour trio into a seven-way tie for fourth as South Africa’s Jacquin Hess set the early pace with a sizzling 66, highlighted by four birdies in his last five holes.
South African pair Brett Liddle and Sean Bradley were tied for second a further shot back on a day when 32 players broke par in this co-sanctioned event between the Sunshine Big Easy Tour and Mena Tour at Woodmead, one of the two 18-hole courses at the Country Club Johannesburg.
Elsewhere, Craig Hinton, the winner of last year’s Mena Tour Order of Merit title, returned a solid 70 to join his fellow tour members Craig Kieswetter and Sweden’s Fredrik From for a share of 17th, one clear of Scott Campbell as Luke Joy, who racked up a creditable third last week, settled for 72.
Brazil’s Dubai-based Tiago Lobo carded a 73 to seize the early initiative in the amateur division, two clear of Sam Hobday of England as South Africa’s Evance Vukeya posted a 76 to occupy solo third.
