South African Andrew McLardy shot a course-record 63 to hold a one-shot lead in the first round of the inaugural Joburg Open at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

The par-72 West course has never hosted a tournament before, as all previous events were on the tougher par-71 East course - which was also in use today and will stage the final two rounds - and so McLardy had the honour of posting the first official record.

McLardy carded three birdies and one bogey on the front nine. But then he stormed back with a 29 coming home - including eagles at the 15th and 18th - to capture the lead.

The eagle on 15 was even more remarkable as his tee shot landed behind an oak tree and he produced a snap-hook that rolled to within three feet of the hole.

"I had a horrible front nine. I think I hit one fairway, the first fairway," said McLardy. "I scrambled everything and got away with it. I just changed my rhythm on the back nine and things went better.

"I just played badly, I scrambled. I was trying to hit it too hard. I was trying to hit it as far past David Frost as I could, but it didn't work."

But he was happy with the way the West course played, especially as he knows the lay-out all too well.

"I've shot 29 before on that course but I reckon someone will break that and shoot a 62. At the moment It is playing like a par 69 at the moment."

While South African Warren Abery is a shot back alongside compatriot Mark Murless, the real talking point was the form of Italian Edoardo Molinari, who is seven under after a red-hot 64 on the East course.

Considering how different the courses have played, the young Molinari, who won the US Amateur in 2005 and is the older brother of European Tour player Francesco and had an error-free round with seven birdies on the par-71 course.

"I played very well today. I think I had one bad shot, and that was on the 15th, but I managed to get up and down and sink a 15-footer for par there," Molinari said.

The Italian believes he can shoot an equally low round on the opposite course tomorrow.

"It's a whole other round tomorrow so you gotta go out and shoot as low as you can," Molinari said. "It's not a gimme that you will shoot 65 or 67 on that course. You can still play well and be two or three shots under par, so its not that easy."

Welshman David Park is tied for fourth on seven under 65 alongside Englishman Chris Ganes and four other players, while Gareth Davies, David Dixon and Jamie Little are in a bunch on six under.

David Higgins is the only Irishman in the field and he sits tied for 47th position on three under par after an opening round 69.  PA