South African Open: England's Matthew Nixon takes slim round one lead after late eagle

 

An eagle on his penultimate hole allowed Matthew Nixon to open up a one-shot lead after round one of the South African Open at Glendower Golf Club in Ekurhuleni.

The Englishman carded a round of 64 to finish the opening day on eight under par, one shot ahead of Marco Crespi and Jbe Kruger.

Italian Crespi, who has only been in possession of a European Tour card for only six days, looked set for a dream day until Nixon's strong finish replaced him and home hope Kruger atop the leaderboard.

First round leaderboard

(RSA unless stated)

-8 M Nixon (Eng)
-7 M Crespi (Ita)
-7 J Kruger
-6 C Basson
-6 R Goosen

Nixon started on the back nine and opened his round with three birdies as he reached the turn in 31 before dropping a shot on his 11th hole.

Two further birdies put him within one shot of the lead and his eagle on the 477-yard par-five eighth saw him leapfrog Crespi and Kruger to claim the overnight advantage.

Crespi finished third at the Qualifying School at PGA Golf Catalunya last week to secure his place on Tour for the 2014 season and on Thursday fired an opening 65 which included an eagle in his 16th hole.

Kruger, like Nixon, eagled the eighth and then birdied five of his last seven holes to edge ahead of a host of fellow South Africans in the chasing pack.

Home charge

Two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen was leading the group on six under after seven birdies, including one on the last, and a single bogey saw him fire a 66 alongside Christiaan Basson.

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel was expected to be in contention as he attempts to win his home tournament for the first time, but it was a surprise to see his younger brother Atti join him on five under.

"It means a lot, I'd love to win the South African Open," Charl Schwartzel told the European Tour's official website.

"I did my preparation and figured out the way I want to play the golf course and it worked today. I've always had really good results in the South African Open, come close a few times.

"I reckon it's one of those where you have to keep at it and keep playing and it will come eventually."

Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen and Italian Andrea Pavan were also on five under, one shot clear of Simon Dyson, who was playing his first tournament since disqualification from the BMW Masters after signing for an incorrect score.

The Englishman put aside concerns over an impending disciplinary hearing after being charged with a serious rules breach, despite insisting his actions were an accidental mistake after television footage showed him touching the line of a putt.