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Jacquelin in front at Volvo Golf Champions

Louis Oosthuizen, shown during the 2013 Presidents Cup competition, is in second place one stroke behind leader Raphael Jacquelin after Thursday's first round of the European Tour's Volvo Golf Champions tournament in South Africa. UPI/Brian Kersey
Louis Oosthuizen, shown during the 2013 Presidents Cup competition, is in second place one stroke behind leader Raphael Jacquelin after Thursday's first round of the European Tour's Volvo Golf Champions tournament in South Africa. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

DURBAN, South Africa, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Raphael Jacquelin birdied the final two holes Thursday and leads the European Tour's Volvo Golf Champions by one stroke in windy conditions in South Africa.

Jacquelin had a bogey-free 5-under-par 67, a score that withstood a late charge by defending champion Louis Oosthuizen, who ended up at 4-under after the first round.

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Darren Clarke and Victor Dubuisson are tied at 3-under and Colin Montgomerie is among seven players at 2-under 70.

With gusty winds making low scores difficult, Jacquelin opened the day with five pars. He posted birdies at Nos. 6 and 8 and made the turn at 2-under. After another run of pars, Jacquelin had a birdie at 14 and pulled away with birdies at 17 and 18, both par 4s.

Oosthuizen began his round with a bogey at the 387-yard par 4 first but had birdies at the two front-side par 5s. He crept close to Jacquelin with birdies at 11, 14 and 17.

Oosthuizen missed a chance to tie for the lead when his tee shot at the 273-yard 18th ended up just short of the green.

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The select 36-player Volvo Golf Champions field is made up of players who won a European Tour event in the previous year, past winners of the Volvo Golf Champions younger than 50 and players younger than 50 with at least 10 European Tour wins.

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