Bernd Wiesberger grabs early lead at Nedbank Golf Challenge

Bernd Wiesberger posted a final-hole birdie to grab the early lead after the opening round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

The Austrian mixed eight birdies with three bogeys on his way to a five-under 67 at Gary Player CC, picking up a shot at the last to give him a one-shot lead over the chasing pack.

Victor Dubuisson set the initial clubhouse target and is tied-second with Branden Grace, Scott Jamieson and Julian Suri, while defending champion Alex Noren in the group on three under.

Race to Dubai leader Tommy Fleetwood, who can give himself an unassailable lead in the race to be European No 1 with victory this week, lies six strokes off the pace after stuttering to an opening-round 73.

Wiesberger cancelled out a blemish at the fifth with back-to-back gains over his next two holes, before bouncing back from a bogey at the ninth to birdie the first three holes of his back nine.

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A three-putt bogey from the 13th fringe briefly slipped Wiesberger two off the pace, only for him to drain a 20-foot birdie at the next and chip in from just off the 16th green to move into a seven-way tie for the lead.

After smartly pitching out of the rough to leave a kick-in par at the 17th, Wiesberger - 12th on the Race to Dubai - rolled in a five-foot birdie at the par-four 18th to grab the outright lead.

Dubuisson fired a hat-trick of birdies around the turn on his way to grabbing the early advantage, as Suri posted a blemish-free round and Jamieson birdied the last to also get to four under.

Grace was over par for his front nine but moved up the leaderboard with a gain at the 10th and birdies either side of the eagle-three at the 13th, as Noren slipped two back after a penultimate-hole bogey.

Graeme Storm, Hideto Tanihara and Charl Schwartzel join Noren on three under, with Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick among the players a further stroke back after an opening-round 70.

Ross Fisher birdied the last to also get within three of the lead, while Tyrrell Hatton - who can still catch Fleetwood at the top of the standings - recovered from being three over after five holes to end the day under par.

Watch the Nedbank Golf Challenge throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Friday from 8am live on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event.