JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Local favorite Neil Schietekat posted a bogey-free, 9-under-par 62 Thursday for a 1-stroke lead after one round of the Joburg Open in South Africa.
Schietekat's effort marked the best round of his professional career and has him ahead of Darren Clarke, David Lynn, Simon Khan, Jbe' Kruger and Charl Schwartzel, who all shot 63. Schwartzel is coming off a win last week at the Africa Open.
The Joburg Open, part of the European PGA Tour, is played on the West Course and East Course at Royal and Kensington Golf Club in Johannesburg, with players alternating between the two Thursday and Friday. The weekend's rounds are set for the East Course. The first-round leaders all played on the shorter West Course.
Schietekat was 1-under after four holes but had consecutive birdies on Nos. 5-7 and made the turn at minus-5 after a birdie at the ninth hole. He continued his climb with three birdies in the four-hole span from 11-14 and got to 9-under with a birdie at 17.
Schwartzel's round included seven consecutive birdies, a string that ended when he three-putted from a few feet for a double-bogey at the par 4 12th hole.
