Golf: Michael puts SA big boys in the shade

Little-known South African Anthony Michael was the clubhouse leader after day one of the Alfred Dunhill Championship after a round of six- under-par 66 put him one stroke clear at Malelane.

The 25-year-old was part of the morning field at the Leopard Creek Country Club, but his score was unmatched by the higher-profile afternoon starters, including compatriots Louis Oosthuizen, who is the Open champion, Charl Schwartzel and 2008 winner Richard Sterne.

Instead, it was Englishman Robert Rock, a player who has finished fourth and second in the same co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event over the last two seasons, in joint-second place after a bogey-free, five-under-par 67.

Three other players shared the same score - German Sebastian Buhl, Marius Thorp of Norway and another South African, Dawie van der Walt.

Spanish pair Alvaro Velasco and Rafael Cabrera Bello, along with Klas Eriksson from Sweden, Keith Horne and Andrew Georgiou were all tied for sixth on four under after 68s, with defending champion Pablo Martin among six players on three under.