Louis de Jager was one of three South Africans on three-under-par 68 on Thursday after the first round of the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open as the European Tour had a tournament on the island for the first time.
Garrick Higgo and Wilco Nienaber joined him, four strokes behind the opening pace set by Johannes Veerman of the United States and Mitch Waite of England.
De Jager made six birdies and three bogeys on his way to a share of 27th. Higgo had an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys, while Nienaber had an eagle, five birdies and four bogeys.
Haydn Porteous showed a welcome return to form, and even though he battled with his putter, he carded a two-under 69 to find himself five shots off the pace in a share of 41st in a closely bunched field.
Bryce Easton was on level par while Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent joined the South African trio on three-under.
Waite and Veerman both made an eagle in their opening 64s at the stunning Aphrodite Hills Resort to sit a single shot clear of their nearest challengers – Andy Sullivan, Sami Välimäki, Joël Stalter, David Drysdale and Jamie Donaldson.
