A bogey-free Louis de Jager moved to within two shots of a congested leaderboard after round one of the Made in Denmark, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
For much of the day, Erik van Rooyen was SA’s best, but De Jager moved top after keeping his card squeaky clean at the Himmerland Golf and Spa resort.
Van Rooyen was a key attraction in the marquee group after his top 10 showing at the PGA Championship, and was in full control of his game but for a double bogey on the par-3 third hole – his 12th hole.
The 29-year-old was one-over par through four before three birdies in his next four holes got him trending in the right direction. Van Rooyen then doubled the third, but came home with two further birdies to sit within three strokes of the lead in a share of 28th place.
Two better than Van Rooyen was defending champion Matt Wallace, whose 67 was his seventh sub-70 round in a row at the event.
George Coetzee, who came home in four straight birdies, joined Van Rooyen and compatriots Justin Walters and Haydn Porteous in the group at two-under par.
De Jager’s card was far calmer, with birdies at 11 and 14 being topped off by a birdie at the 1st to sit just two off the pace.
Countrymen Darren Fichardt and Dean Burmester both tucked into the clubhouse at -1.
At the top after opening 66s are Edoardo Molinari, three time European Tour winner, alongside Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares and English trio Tom Murray, Matthew Southgate and Paul Waring.
