Bezuidenhout, who claimed the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club by four shots on Sunday, shot a five-under-par 67 to share the lead with three other South Africans, Matthias Schwab, of Austria, and Italian Aron Zemmer.

The home players are Dean Burmester, Jacques Kruyswijk and Ruan Korb, who made six birdies in seven holes to take the lead before a bogey on his second last hole.

The lone Australian in the field, 23-year-old Austin Bautista, made an eventful start, his one-under 71 featuring six birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

Schwab was the only player in the field to hit a bogey-free round on the taxing course at the Gary Player Country Club.