JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- South African Trevor Fisher Jr. and Steven Jeppesen of Sweden shared the first-round lead at 8-under-par 63 Thursday in South Africa's Joburg Open.
"It's always nice to have a good start," Fisher said after his round, which included six birdies on his first nine holes.
Jeppesen had two eagles and two birdies on his front nine.
"It was a good round and I'm very pleased," the 24-year-old Swede said.
Michael Hoy held third place at 7-under 64.
Six players -- David Drysdale, Andrew McLardy, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, Patrik Sjoland and Eduardo Molinari, were tied at 65.
Defending champion Richard Sterne was far back on the leaderboard after shooting an even-par 71.
The event is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour of South Africa.
