Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen is on course for back-to-back wins in South Africa after taking the lead in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Four days after winning his maiden European Tour title in the South African Open, Madsen carded a seven-under-par 65 at Leopard Creek to finish one ahead of local favourite Allan Versfeld and Portugal’s Ricardo Santos.
Scotland’s Chris Doak had been six under par with three holes to play, but bogeyed the seventh and double-bogeyed the eighth and had to settle for a three-under 69.
Madsen carded eight birdies and one bogey as he continued his remarkable start to only his second full season on Tour, having finished 81st in last season’s Race to Dubai.
Versfeld returned a flawless 66 thanks to an eagle and four birdies, while Santos did likewise and finished in style with his eagle coming on the par-five 18th.
Defending champion Charl Schwartzel was two shots further back on four under alongside England’s Richard Finch, Scotland’s David Drysdale and France’s Victor Riu.
Schwartzel was five under for his first six holes and annoyed at not capitalising on such a blistering start, declining to speak to reporters afterwards.
The former Masters champion won his first European Tour title at Leopard Creek in 2005 and triumphed by 12 shots last year, just a week after winning the Thailand Open by 11 strokes.
Fifer Peter Whiteford did not have the best of opening rounds as he carded a five-under 77 to sit alongside countryman Scott Jamieson.
Jamie McLeary finished one under and was one ahead of Craig Lee.