Mckibbin has a great start with hole-in-one

A spectacular hole-in-one helped Northern Ireland’s Tom Mckibbin make a superb start to the Investec South African Open Championship.

The 19-year-old, who hails from the same golf club as world No 1 Rory Mcilroy, holed out with a five iron from 232 yards on the 11th hole at Blair Atholl Golf and Country Estate, the longest course in DP World Tour history.

Mckibbin also recorded five birdies and two bogeys to card an opening 67 and trail local favourite Thriston Lawrence by three shots, Lawrence equalling his own course record with a superb 64.

England’s Ross Fisher birdied five of his last seven holes to shoot 65 and share second place with Sweden’s Jens Fahrbring, with Scotland’s Scott Jamieson a shot further back alongside Germany’s Matti Schmid, who had three eagles in his 66.

Ryder Cup vice-captain Edoardo Molinari matched the 67 of playing partner Mckibbin with six birdies and a solitary bogey. Scot Marc Warren is four off the lead after an opening 68, while Grant Forrest carded a one-over 73.

● David Micheluzzi holds a three-shot lead after the opening round of the ISPS Handa Australian Open as pretournament favourite Cameron Smith got off to a slow start.

The tournament sees men, women and golfers with disabilities competing on the same course at the same time.

Micheluzzi carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey at Victoria Golf Club for a course recordequalling 63, with Matthew Griffin and Josh Geary his nearest challengers on four under.

Open champion Smith lies eight shots off the lead after struggling to a one-over-par 71.

In the women’s event, Australia’s Grace Kim carded a course-record 66 at Kingston Heath to lead on seven under, two ahead of compatriot Hannah Green and South Korea’s Jiyai Shin