Clark & Fisher take opening round honours

Holder Tim Clark and little-known Briton Ross Fisher equalled the course record at the Links at Fancourt to share the lead after the first round of the South African Open on Thursday.

Clark and Fisher fired five-under-par 68s on the windswept southern Cape coast to match the record held by South African trio Steve van Vuuren, Hennie Otto and Thomas Aiken.

But there was no joy for home favourites Retief Goosen and Ernie Els.

World number four Goosen failed to take advantage of an early tee time and posted two double bogeys in a level-par 73.

Els, the world number five, fared even worse with a three-over 76.

South African Clark, who turns 30 on Saturday, also had an early tee time and took full toll of the relatively calm conditions by returning only one bogey.

Fisher started his round six hours later when the wind was beginning to strengthen.

Starting at the 10th hole, the 25-year-old Englishman reeled off five birdies to blaze through his first nine in a best of the day 32 strokes.

Fisher dropped strokes at the first and eighth but birdies at the fifth and ninth earned him a share of the lead on the opening day of the second oldest national championship.

"I am really, really chuffed to shoot 68 on such a demanding course on which the big guns have struggled," Fisher told reporters.

"On such a tough course, I'll just be looking to stay patient in the morning."

Clark, who also began at the 10th, gave his round a big boost when he struck a glorious three-wood second shot to 12 feet and sank his putt for an eagle at the 18th.

More birdies at the second, third and eighth put him in line for the outright course record before he faltered with a bogey at the ninth.

"I certainly was not attacking the flags today," said Clark. "I was very cautious, hitting away from the flags and getting on the safe side.

"The idea today was to hit fairways because if you hit it in the wrong spot, you could get any number."

Sweden's Henrik Nystrom was in third place on four-under 69. Fellow countryman Mattias Eliasson notched two eagles on the back nine to share fourth position with South African Charl Schwartzel on 70.

Schwartzel was runner-up to Clark in this event last year and second behind Els in last week's Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.

Briton Justin Rose, the highest-ranked international competitor playing here, began his campaign with a 74.

The South African Open is co-sanctioned by the European and Sunshine tours.

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