Matthew Nixon gains one-shot lead in opening round of South African Open Championship

England golfer Matthew Nixon has moved into a one-stroke lead in the first round of the South African Open Championship at Glendower Golf Club on Thursday after making three on the 477-metre par-five eighth.

Nixon, who finished 105th in the 2013 Race to Dubai on the European Tour and narrowly retaining his card, held an edge over Italy's Marco Crespi and South African Jbe' Kruger, with Christiaan Basson and Retief Goosen a further shot back on six-under-par 66.

According to Sport24, Nixon who started his round on the 10th and made three consecutive birdies to get things going, however, said that he did not play the eight very well, adding that although he began the shot nicely, it ended up turning in and dropping.

The report mentioned that after his opening three birdies, Nixon made two more ahead of the turn, which he reached in 31, following which he birdied the second and the seventh ahead of his eagle and found himself in front of the field despite a momentary lapse on two.