JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Martin Maritz and Tyrone Mordt each had bogey-free, 9-under-par 62s Thursday and share the lead at the European Tour's Joburg Open in South Africa.
Maritz had five birdies in his final six holes and Mordt had seven in a nine-hole span to lead after one round. Branden Grace is alone in third at 8-under while Alexandre Kaleka and Thomas Aiken are tied for fourth at 7-under 64.
The Joburg Open is contested on both the East and West courses at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. Each golfer will play both courses in first two rounds and the final two rounds will be played on the East Course.
A total of 21 of the top 26 players, including Mordt, started on the West Course Thursday. Maritz and Aiken are the only leaders who opened on the East Course. The 9-under score by Maritz represented an East Course record.
Maritz started with back-to-back birdies and made the turn in 4-under after birdies at Nos. 6 and 8. He moved up quickly with four consecutive birdies from 13-16 and closed with a birdie.
Mordt opened and closed his first nine holes with back-to-back birdies and also beat par at No. 6. He matched Maritz's string of four consecutive birdies from 12-15.
