Lothian stars could be cut in Joburg Open

They both carded one-over-par 72s to find themselves 10 shots behind the early pacesetter, South African Neil Schietekat, at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington.

Playing his first round over the Red Course – there are two layouts in operation this week due to the size of the bigger than normal field for a European Tour event – Drysdale bagged three birdies on the trot from the 13th. But the 34-year-old, who finished third in this event last year, also had four bogeys on the card he eventually signed for.

Gallacher, making only his second appearance in a regular Tour event since returning from an illness that forced him to miss the second half of the 2009 season, had a similar round on the Green Course.

The former Walker Cup player had three birdies - at the fourth, 15th and 18th - but undid that good work with four bogeys.

Alastair Forsyth led the Scottish challenge after the first day, the Paisley man firing an excellent seven-under-par 64 to lie just two shots off the lead.

Andrew McArthur (65) and Peter Whiteford (66) were also well placed, with former Open champion Paul Lawrie and Jamie McLeary, who is attached to Dalmahoy, both posting three-under-par 68s.

Englishman Barry Lane is still waiting to discover whether he will play the 650th event of his European Tour career in Abu Dhabi next week.

But winning the Joburg Open would guarantee the 49-year-old a start – and would also make him the oldest winner in Tour history.

The chance is alive for the ex-Ryder Cup player after an opening 65 which left him three behind Schietekat and in joint eighth place.

Schietekat, not even in the world's top 1,000, led by one overnight from compatriots Charl Schwartzel and Jbe Kruger, Ulsterman Darren Clarke and England's Simon Khan and David Lynn.

Irishman Des Smyth remains the circuit's oldest champion. He was just past his 48th birthday when he lifted the Madeira Island Open in 2001. Lane is 50 in June and becomes eligible for seniors golf then, but will need no reminding that Greg Norman was third in the 2008 Open at 53 and 59-year-old Tom Watson went even closer at Turnberry last July.

It would be some return to form for the former British Masters champion. His 186th place on last season's money list was his worst since his debut in 1982. He retained a Tour exemption by virtue of being among the 40 leading money-winners of all time – with nearly 5million he is currently 34th on that list – but is only second reserve for next week at the moment.

There is still a long way to go for Lane to match Sam Torrance, whose record of 705 tournaments could stand forever.