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Sterne and Kieffer share one-shot lead after first round of Joburg Open

By PA Sport
Published on
Sterne and Kieffer share one-shot lead after first round of Joburg Open

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- South African Richard Sterne and Germany's Maximilian Kieffer lead the way after Thursday’s opening day at the Joburg Open.

The pair shot first-round 63s to sit together on 8 under par at the top of the leaderboard, with Kieffer pegging Sterne back after the home favorite had raced off among the early starters at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

Sterne, a 31-year-old who is making his way back in the game after long struggles with a back injury, came in second in Dubai last week and clearly fancies a sixth European Tour title.

He played the West Course on Thursday and has the East to tackle on Friday, but has fond memories of it after winning this very event five years ago.

"I had three good rounds on the East Course that year. If I can do that now, I'll have a chance on Sunday," he said. "Some days it feels good and everything kind of happens. Golf is a strange game and you have to hit the right shots at the right time. I hit 17 greens today and was never in trouble."

Sterne signed for six birdies and an eagle on an unblemished day, while Kieffer also went round without dropping a shot. Eight birdies did the trick for him.

Norway's Espen Kofstad would have joined them in an overnight share of the lead were it not for a disastrous final hole. He was tied with the pacesetters until a triple-bogey 7 on the West Course's last threw him back down the leaderboard.

South Africa's Bryce Easton is third, a hole-in-one helping him to an East Course-record 65, while eight players are hugged together on 6 under. American Peter Uihlein and Sweden's Joakim Lagergren are the two non-South Africans in the group, while England's Ross McGowan is on 5 under, along with 12 other players.

Charl Schwartzel is sitting on 4 under, the 2011 Masters champion resting just off the pace after five birdies and a bogey on the East Course.

It was a bad day for England's Richard McEvoy, though, who went round in 8 over, one worse than compatriot Nick Dougherty and three worse than Scotland's Alastair Forsyth.