Scott Jamieson in the mix in South Africa

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel birdied the last hole to share the lead after the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

Home favourite Schwartzel, a four time winner of this event, posted a flawless 66  to join Irishman Paul Dunne on six under.

Dunne, meanwhile, made eight gains at Leopard Creek Country Club, with a double bogey at the ninth the only blemish on his card.

Home hopes Jean Hugo and Brandon Stone were among the group one shot behind the co-leaders, alongside Max Orrin, Pablo Larrazábal, Alexander Björk and Scotland's Scott Jamieson (pictured above).

Schwartzel reached the turn in 34, with the only birdie of his front nine coming at the short fifth.

The South African picked up a shot at the tenth before making another gain at the 11th after coming within inches of holing his approach shot.

Further birdies at the 13th and 15th followed, and when Schwartzel tapped in his birdie putt at the last, he found himself tied at the top.

Speaking about his start to the round, Schwartzel said: "I wasn’t doing anything wrong, really. A couple of the shots just didn’t finish as I planned.

 "I made a good par putt on seven, and those putts are sometimes more important than the birdie putts. 

"My game was feeling good, but it was just a matter of getting the execution I was looking for, and on the back nine it came together nicely."

Dunne made the perfect start to his opening round, following up birdies at the first and fourth with back-to-back gains at the seventh and eighth.

The 24 year old finished his front nine with a double bogey at the par-four ninth but did not let that derail his round, picking up shots at the 11th and 13th to return to four under.

Dunne made his seventh gain of the day at the 15th before curling in his birdie putt at the 17th to get to six under.

"For me I feel if I can get the ball in play off the tee, with how my irons are feeling and with how good the greens are, I feel if I drive the ball well I’ll give myself loads of chances," said Dunne.

"I’m feeling good. And look, I have the rest of the weekend - there's a long way to go."

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
par 72
66 P Dunne (Ire), C Schwartzel (SAf)
67 M Orrin (Eng), S Jamieson (Sco), J Hugo (SAf), P Larrazabal (Spa), A Bjork (Swe), B Stone (SAf).

SELECTED OTHER SCORES:
68 J Rutherford (Eng) (T9)
69 N Kimsey (Eng), C Hanson (Eng) (T18)
70 D Drysdale (Sco) (T32).
71 C Cannon (Eng), L Canter (Eng), M Foster (Eng), M Nixon (Eng), S Tiley (Eng).
72 S Henry (Sco) (T67)
78 D Clarke (NIre) (T141)

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