Bogey-free first rounds by both players in the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event, saw them holding a one stroke lead ahead of South Africa’s Malcolm Mitchell and Jayden Schaper, England’s Marco Penge and Callum Tarren, and Germany’s Nicolai Von Dellingshausen.

Following heavy overnight rain, the players were pleasantly surprised to tee off under clear skies, with the course having recovered remarkably well from the downpour.

For Ding, a European Tour rookie, the strong start was particularly meaningful as he aimed to celebrate his South African caddie’s birthday in style – with a trophy by the end of the week.

“It felt great to hole some putts today. It’s been a while. I struck the ball well, especially with my short irons, which set up plenty of birdie opportunities,” said Ding.

Smith was equally pleased with his performance on a Houghton Golf Club course, which he hadn’t played since the Joburg Open moved to this venue.

“I’m really happy with that round. The course is in unbelievable condition, considering how much rain it absorbed overnight. It’s a narrow layout with tree-lined fairways and plenty of different shot options. 

“Personally, I prefer to take the driver off the tee where I can. The key today was using that advantage, hitting my wedge shots in close, and managing the spin, as the soft greens require precise judgement,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Jayden Schaper once again put himself in contention for a maiden DP World Tour title, leading the South African charge alongside Mitchell.

“It was a really solid start, especially with the eagle on the first hole. The course played quite soft in perfect conditions. It’s a straightforward layout, and I’ve played it a few times before, so I felt comfortable out there,” said Schaper.

With three rounds still to play, the leaderboard remains wide open as players look to make their move in the Joburg Open.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh