Shiv Kapur had a slow start with a one-over 71 that put him in danger of missing the halfway cut at the Tshwane Open here today.
Kapur, who skipped last week's event, started from the tenth and had two birdies, one bogey and one double bogey on the 18th in his round. He was tied 83rd after the first round.
Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen shot an ace and an eagle on his last two holes - eighth and ninth - to join David Horsey in a share of the lead after the first round.
Madsen, third in last week's Africa Open, had a hole-in-one at the short eighth, then carded an eagle from 12 feet at the par five ninth - his last - to set the pace with a seven under par 63.
That was matched by England's Horsey in the afternoon, as the three-time European Tour winner produced a flawless display.
Madsen claimed his maiden European Tour title on South African soil last season, and having started on the back nine and turned in a two under 33, holed a 30 footer at the first and responded to his only bogey of the day at the fourth with another gain at the sixth.
The former South African Open winner then spun his wedge to the eighth back into the hole for the 20th ace on The European Tour this season, and closed out his day in style after an excellent three iron approach at the ninth.
The leaders were a shot clear of South African Wallie Coetsee - a runner-up in the Joburg Open a fortnight ago - and Australian Brett Rumford, with Keith Horne, Merrick Bremner, Dean Burmester and Raphael Jacquelin tied for fifth on five under.
