Benson, Kruger share early lead at Alfred Dunhill

MALELANE, South Africa (AP) -- England's Seve Benson and local player Jbe Kruger shot 8-under-par 64s to share the first-round clubhouse lead in sweltering heat at the European Tour's Alfred Dunhill Championship in northern South Africa on Thursday.

Benson and Kruger kept their cool as temperatures hit 41 degrees (105 F) at Leopard Creek Golf Club to sit two shots clear when play was suspended for bad light with 24 players still to finish their opening rounds.

Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Scottish pair George Murray and Alan McLean and George Coetzee were tied for third on 6 under.

Benson had eight birdies and didn't drop a shot for his lowest round on the European Tour, while Kruger carded seven birdies and an eagle and would have led outright if not for a bogey on the par-3 16th.

Two-time defending champion Pablo Martin of Spain opened with a 9-over 81 with five bogeys and three double-bogeys, almost certainly ending his bid to become just the fifth player to win a European Tour event three times in a row.

Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els are the only players to achieve that feat, but Martin's terrible first round leaves him struggling just to make the cut from a tie for 153rd out of 156 players.

The 25-year-old Benson -- named after late golfing great Seve Ballesteros -- made an impressive start to a tournament he has to win to secure his tour card for next year.

He birdied holes 2, 5 and 6 and put three straight birdies together from the 10th to put him on course for a maiden European Tour win in tough conditions.

"I was aggressive in the right areas. When I had the chance to go for it I did," Benson said. "It's so hot that sometimes you have to take a few deep breaths. Everyone out there is affected."

Former Ryder Cup players Oliver Wilson and Phillip Price both returned 2-over 74s to be in a tie for 85th.

The Alfred Dunhill Championship is the first stop on a five-tournament swing in South Africa for the European Tour over the next two months.

It's followed by the South African Open next week, and then in January by the Africa Open, Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions event, which was relocated from Bahrain.