Scott Henry burst out of the blocks on an opening day of low scoring in the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington.
While South Africa's Nic Henning surged to the front with a course-record equalling nine-under 62 over the West course, Henry tucked himself in among the early frontrunners with a six-under 65. With places in this July's Open also on offer for the top three finishers not already exempt into the St Andrews showpiece, the Scot has plenty to play for.
Henry was quickly into his stride with five birdies on a purposeful outward half. Despite spilling a shot on the 11th, the 28-year-old reeled off back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16 to repair the damage.
"It was a bit unexpected I would say but I made a good, hot start," reported Henry, who doesn't have full European Tour card. "I was a bit thrown on the 11th with my yardages. Playing at altitude has more effect for someone like me who hits it long and quite high. You have 220 yards and you're hitting a 6-iron. It's not like this back home. It's minus-three and the ball goes nowhere."
Sean Jacklin, the Scots-born son of the former Open and US Open champion Tony, began with a three-under 68 on the West course while Andrew McArthur's three-under 69 was posted on the East course. Bradley Neil, the Amateur champion from Blairgowrie, opened with a one-over 73.
At the head of the field, Henning, a 45-year-old who won four times on the Sunshine Tour between 1999 and 2005, had five birdies and an eagle in an outward half of 29 at a venue where he won the South African Amateur Championship back in 1991. "Over the last few years my scores have been really terrible and it's nice to have a good round under the belt to prove to myself that I can still play well," he said.
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