Walters takes first round lead at Joburg Open

The South African, who is one of several home favourites attempting to become the seventh South African victor in the 10th instalment of the tournament, carded a seven-under-par 65 on the East Course at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. He picked up another birdie on the 14th then holed from 15 feet for an eagle on the par-five 15th to complete the back nine in 29.

“Brandon and I have played golf together since we were kids, through junior golf to professional golf, and to watch him win last week was an inspiration because not only did a really good friend win the SA Open, but it gave me confidence that I know I can compete on the European Tour and hopefully do exactly the same as he does”.

“I holed a wedge at 12 today which was nice and then I hit two great shots into the par five, so I had 15-20 feet there for eagle and managed to hole that one as well”, said McGowan.

Chile’s Felipe Aguilar had matched McGowan’s 67 in the opening round and added a flawless 65 on Friday to share second place on 11 under with England’s Anthony Wall and South African pair Haydn Porteous and Jean Hugo.

“I have a lot of good memories here. That was something really extreme for me, it was an fantastic experience, but it takes a little bit too much time from golf, so I’ll put that aside and I’m going to wait a couple more years until I do another one”.

“Normally I work pretty hard in the off-season so I was rusty, but my method is there”.

In the far east, Irishman Shane Lowry insisted that this weekend’s EurAsia Cup match with an Asian Tour select is not just a dry run for the Ryder Cup as Europe look to make amends for squandering a four-point lead in the inaugural event two years ago.

Paul Dunne fired a second-round of 63 to move to nine under at the half-way stage of the Joburg Open.

The 30-year-old, who made it back to the top table of the European game through the second tier Challenge Tour last season, also playing the East Course, could only conjure up three birdies and two bogeys to be on six under par heading into the weekend.