George Murray on the up again

GEORGE Murray's topsy-turvy start to his first season on the European Tour continued yesterday as the Fifer led the Scottish challenge after the first round of the Jo'burg Open.

The 27-year-old, who missed the cut by a fair bit in both the Alfred Dunhill Championship and Africa Open but, in between, gave a decent account of himself in the South African Open, signed for a five-under-par 67 on the West Course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington.

On a day of low scoring at the final event of the Tour's South Africa sojourn, Murray claimed a share of 14th, four shots behind the leaders, South Africans Martin Maritz and Tyrone Mordt.

David Drysdale, third in this event two years ago, and Marc Warren also made promising starts with matching 67s to sit inside the top 30 heading into the second round.

Murray, who earned his step up to the main circuit through the Challenge Tour last year, did his good work at the beginning and end of his round. After picking up birdies at the first two holes, the former Scottish amateur champion then reeled off 13 straight pars before finishing with three more birdies. "I've not found much different between the Challenge Tour and this so far," said Murray, who won the Scottish Hydro Challenge at Macdonald Spey Valley last year. "My game has not been in great shape but I played nicely today."

Drysdale was still feeling rusty when he went into freefall during the second round in East London last week to miss the cut. "My opening effort there flattered me big style," admitted the 35-year-old, who still wasn't happy with his driving but made up for that by holing a few putts in his four-under effort yesterday.

Also playing in the West Course, the shorter of the two layouts being used for the event, he made his score by coming home in 31, helped by birdies at the 10th, 15th, 16th and 17th.

Warren, who lost his card at the end of last season, received a much-needed confidence boost when he made the cut last week. The two-time European Tour winner is off to an even better start in Johannesburg, signing for five birdies on a card which had only one blemish - a bogey at the last.

In a field of just over 200 players, Steven O'Hara, is lying in a share of 80th with Alastair Forsyth, Scott Jamieson and Elliot Saltman after they all carded 70s, along with Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, who finished with three consecutive birdies. Lloyd Saltman had a pretty uneventful 71, but former PGA champion Scott Drummond looks to be heading for an early exit after he slumped to a seven-over 78.

Maritz and Mordt carded faultless 62s on different courses.They registered nine birdies each, including four in a row on the back nine, with Maritz's effort coming on the East Course to lead by a shot from compatriot Branden Grace following his earlier 63.