THREE SHARE LEAD IN

INTERNATIONAL

SPRINGBOK QUALIFIER
Tyrone van Aswegen (24) was in a buoyant mood after a six-under-par 66 earned him a share of the first-round lead alongside seasoned campaigners, Adilson da Silva of Brazil and Doug McGuigan at today's International Final Qualifier for the Open at Carnoustie in July.
The leading trio top the leaderboard at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club, one shot clear of Australian Terry Pilkadaris and fellow South African, Grant Muller, who share fourth spot.
Six-time Sunshine Tour winner, Hennie Otto, continued on the comeback trail, building on a third place finish in the Joburg Open on Sunday with an opening 68.
He shares sixth place with a dozen players, including Zimbabwean Mike Lamb and Andre Bossert of Switzerland, South Africans Dion Fourie and Vaughn Groenewald, as well as 2005 qualifiers, Thomas Aiken and Ross Wellington, also from South Africa.

SCOT McLEAN OUT OF RUNNING
Last year's IFQ (Africa) winner Warren Abery opened with a one-under-par 71.
Brazil’s Da Silva, 34, had more reasons to be happy, having underlined his stature as one of the most consistent players on the Sunshine Tour, following his 69th consecutive cut made with a tie for sixth place on the weekend in the Joburg Open.
Scot Alan McLean has little or no chance of returning to his home land in triumph. He is sharing last place in a field of 49 with a six-over-par score of 78.

The top four at the end of 36 holes will go straight through to the Open championship proper at Carnoustie.
CLUBHOUSE LEADERS
FIRST ROUND
Players from South Africa unless stated
66 Adilson da Silva (Braz), Tyrone Van Aswegen, Doug McGuigan.
67 Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), Grant Muller.

Other scores included:
68 Hennie Otto, Dion Fourie, Mike Lamb (Zim), Vaughn Groenewald, Thomas Aiken, Ross Wellington, Andre Bossert (Swi).
69 Bradford Vaughan.
70 James Kamte, Alan Michell, Grant Veenstra, Anton Haig, Henk Alberts, Chris Swanepoel.
71 Warren Abery.

78 Alan McLean (Sco).