McLardy struggled to hit fairways on his opening nine
R1 LEADERBOARD
(SA unless stated):
-9 A McLardy
-8 W Abery, M Murless
-7 M Cayeux (Zim), C Gane (Eng), L Oosthuizen, D Park (Wal), B Pieters
Selected other:
-5 A Forsyth (Sco)

Andrew McLardy fired a course-record 63 to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Joburg Open at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Club.

The South African carded three birdies and one bogey on the front nine but came home in 29, with the help of eagles at the 15th and the last.

Warren Abery and Mark Murless are a stroke behind after 64s.

Welshman David Park and England's Chris Gane are in a group of five players on seven under.

McLardy, whose parents hail from Helensborough in Scotland, excelled on the club's West course - the first time it has hosted a tournament.

The highlight of his round came at the 15th when his tee shot landed behind an oak tree and he produced a snap-hook that rolled to within three feet of the hole.

"I had a horrible front nine. I think I hit one fairway, the first," said the 32-year-old.

"I scrambled everything and got away with it. I just changed my rhythm on the back nine and things went better.

"I just played badly, I scrambled. I was trying to hit it too hard. I was trying to hit it as far past David Frost as I could, but it didn't work."