Dean Burmester (RSA) shot a first round seven under par 65 to lead in the €1.5 million Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek CC, South Africa.
This is the fifth tournament on the 2022 – 23 Race to Dubai that offers both Race to Dubai and Ryder Cup Points.
33 year-old Burmester, who currently sits in 58th place in the Official World Golf Ranking, a two time winner on the DP World Tour, opened up with a one under par front nine of 34 followed by a storming back nine holes of a six birdie 31 against a back nine par of 37.
Also in contention were fellow 33 year-old Austrian Lukas Nemecz just a shot back of the leader seeking his first victory on the DP World Tour, There were four South Africans in the five-strong group in a tie for third - Darren Fichardt, Jaco Ahlers, Deon Germishuys and Branden Grace - along with France's David Ravetto.
Burmester said on completing his round, ‘What a back nine.
‘Some of the best I've played in a little while so I'm happy to do that.’
When asked if the wind was difficult to judge at times on day one, Burmester said: ‘Very tricky.
‘We had up to three clubs at times and then we had nothing. And then it was moving around as well.
‘The 15th hole, the tee-shot was downwind and then my ball mid-flight went into the wind.
‘And then we got to the 16th and there was no wind. But managed to deal with it.’
On a day of strong scoring 66 players broke par with all players in the field having at least one bogey in the 156 player field.
Round One Leaders (7249 yards par 72)
D. Burmester (RSA) 65
L. Nemecz (Aus) 66
B. Grace (RSA) 67
J. Ahlers (RSA) 67
D. Ravetto (Fr) 67
D. Germishuys (RSA) 67
D. Fichardt (RSA) 67