David Drysdale finished with a flourish yesterday to lead the Scottish contingent after day one of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.
The 37-year-old, whose last top-three on the tour came in South Africa at the Joburg Open of 2012, birdied three of his last four holes in a four-under 68 to sit in a share of fourth.
Drysdale lurks three shots behind the in-form Danish front-runner, Morten Madsen, who continued the form which swept him to a maiden European Tour title in the South African Open last weekend with a fine 65.
Chris Doak, six-under with three to play, had to settle for score of a 69 on an eventful day during which the former Scottish PGA champion packed seven birdies, one eagle, two bogeys and two double-bogeys into a colourful card. Jamie McLeary began his challenge with a 71, while Craig Lee rallied on his back-nine with a trio of birdies to salvage a level-par 72. Peter Whiteford and Scott Jamieson both toiled to 77s.
At the head of the field, Madsen reeled off eight birdies in total as his bid for back-to-back crowns got off to a purposeful start. "I have a lot of confidence right now and I'm just trying to enjoy the ride," he said.
He has been able to stay ahead of potential speed bumps, too, with local man Allan Versfeld - who finished with an eagle on the par 5, 18th - and Portugal's Ricardo Santos a further shot behind. Charl Schwartzel, the former Masters champion who won his first European Tour event here in 2005 and triumphed by 12 shots last year, finished alongside Drysdale on the 68 mark.
"It seemed easy but it definitely wasn't - the course was playing long with the wind," Madsen added. "I played really solidly, I gave myself a lot of looks at birdie and a lot of shorter ones which was nice. I have a lot of confidence right now, I really believe I am going to hit good shots on pretty much every shot. I won last week so everything that happens is going to be icing on the cake."
Adam Scott was also given to smack his lips after a course-record 10-under 62 at the Emirates Australian Open. However, he maintained his picture-perfect golf swing was not quite all he wanted it to be.
The world No.2 started with six straight birdies but lost his rhythm midway through his opening round at the Royal Sydney Golf Club and then had to settle for eight straight pars. He recovered, though, and a birdie on the sixth led to another run of four straight birdies, enough to break the course record by three shots. "I can't complain about anything, but the swing has wandered on a couple of shots and did it again," said Scott.
On the Ladies European Tour, Glasgow's Kylie Walker finished in a share of 10th spot, six shots off the lead, after a first round level-par 72 in the Hero India Women's Open. Musselburgh's Vikki Laing opened with a 73 in the penultimate event of the LET season.
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