Dean Burmester led a strong South African start on Thursday in the European Tour’s D+D Real Czech Masters at the Albatross Golf Resort in Prague, Czech Republic, with a four-under-par 68 to put him just one stroke off the lead.
Henrik Stenson showed a glimpse of form with his opening 67, which gave him a share of the lead with Ant Maverick of Australia. Burmester was one of nine players on four-under in a share of third.
Burmester was bogey-free in his first tournament back after taking a break following the Open Championship where had a decent debut showing with a share of 40th. He won his second European Tour title with his victory in the Tenerife Open in March.
Just one shot behind Burmester were Jacques Kruyswijk and Daniel van Tonder, who each signed for three-under 69 to put them in a share of 12th. JC Ritchie was another shot further back on two-under to be in a share of 18th.
Zander Lombard opened with a one-under 71, while Louis de Jager, Haydn Porteous and Brandon Stone were all on level-par. Darren Fichardt was one-over, Bryce Easton on two-over, Mathiam Keyser on three-over and George Coetzee battled his way to five-over and a share of 115th.
