Marc Warren made a sturdy start to the Joburg Open during a first day that was eventually suspended due to torrential rain at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington.

On already saturated ground, the three-time European Tour winner posted a neatly assembled four-under 68 over the sodden East Course and was sitting behind clubhouse leader, Paul Peterson of the USA, who romped round the West course in a nine-under 62.

Peterson, who won the Czech Masters on the European circuit last season, said: "It was fun out there. Making birdies on half the holes is never bad and bogey free to match. I put a new putter in play this week and it proved to be a good first round with it.

English duo Aaron Rai and Paul Waring carded matching rounds of 65 to lead the chasing pack before play was halted. Playing just the third European Tour event of his career, Rai fired seven birdies in a tidy round with Waring recording nine birdies and two bogeys.

Rai missed out on earning full playing privileges on the main circuit via the Challenge Tour rankings in 2016 by less than 3,000 euro, and was only two shots away from gaining his card at the qualifying school.

Connor Syme, the young Scottish amateur, made it to the clubhouse with a battling level-par 71 on the West course while Duncan Stewart’s 72 was even-par on the neighbouring East course. Scott Henry had to settle for a one-over there while David Drysdale (four-under through 12) and Scott Jamieson (three-under after nine) were making decent progress before the suspension.

Elsewhere, Liam Johnston saw his bid for glory in the South African Amateur Championship thwarted in the quarter-finals.

The Dumfries golfer, the last remaining Scot in the knock-out stages, went down at the 21st hole of a keenly fought tussle with Caylum Boon.