Veterans to the fore at Open

Nic Henning spearheaded a charge of veterans at the R16.9-million Joburg Open yesterday as he stormed into the first-round lead by one stroke.

The Knysna-based golfer fired a nine-under-par 62 to match Desvonde Botes' 2007 course record over the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club's West layout.

Henning, 45, started with two straight birdies before sinking his seven-iron approach from 169m for an eagle two on the third.

"It's been a long time [since I played well]," said Henning, who fired three more birdies on the outward nine before turning in 29. "I told myself before I teed off, it's myself and the golf course, there's nobody else around. I've been reading Bob Rotella's book, Unstoppable Golfer. Maybe it has helped me," said Henning.

He won the SA amateur strokeplay title here in 1991, but has failed to make the cut at this tournament for the past few years.

Henning's nearest rivals on eight under par - Titch Moore, 39, Tjaart van der Walt, 40, and Thomas Pieters of Belgium, barely out of his teens - also played on the West, as did the trio on seven under.

The best performers on the par-72 East course were Wallie Coetsee and Englishman Sam Hutsby, who carded 66.

The field will switch courses today before playing out the weekend on the East.

Moore, who aced the par-three fifth on the West yesterday, inspired his best buddy Coetsee on the East.

"I saw my friend Titch on the leaderboard after five holes, five under, and I said: 'Listen, the braai's got to taste nice this afternoon so let me also post something nice'," said Coetsee.

Moving from Tzaneen to Jeffreys Bay nearly three years ago had reinvigorated his game, and he finished 26th on last year's order of merit, his best in more than a decade.

Both players are also eyeing the added bonus prize here of possible spots in the Open at St Andrew's, awarded to the top three non-exempt players inside the top 10 this week.