Vaughan in vanguard

Golf/South African Open: American veteran Bruce Vaughan took a share of the lead at the South Africa Open yesterday despite only recently recovering from the latest in a series of six reconstructive operations on a knee injury.

Vaughan surprised himself as he prospered in the sweltering conditions on a Royal Durban Country Club course which provided wind and lots of narrow fairways.

And, while he shares the lead with South African Titch Moore, a shot clear of another South African in Tjaart van der Walt, Vaughan is just pleased he can make it through the round at all.

"My knee isn't good at all," he said after his round. "The last time I played when I walked 18 holes was at Leopard Creek in the (Sunshine Tour's) Tour Championship last February.

"I had six knee surgeries in less than two years and the last time they set the bone they told me everything looked good. But this is my last chance - if everything doesn't hold then you're going to have a total bad knee.

"I went back to playing in September but had to play in little three-day tournaments where I had to take a cart and that was it. I played a couple of pro-ams but nothing much else."

For the five Irish players in the field it was a day to forget. In particular, Philip Walton, back on tour with a full card for the first time since 1999, opened with a triple bogey at the first and managed only seven pars in a nine-over-par round of 81.

Darren Clarke was best with a level par 72 which included four birdies and four bogeys. Gary Murphy and Ciarán McMonagle fired four-over-par 76s, while Stephen Browne was a further two shots back.

Vaughan was startled at having such a good day in the seaside sun, especially after he had told Sunshine Tour commissioner Johan Immelman that he had to "scrape the rust off my clubs to come here because they had not seen grass for a long time".

"I am more shocked than anybody else being up there, because the only thing I have been able to do at home is putt. But I putted pretty well today so I guess it paid off," he added.

Moore, the clubhouse leader after a sensational early start, will have to overcome his own bogey of leading tournaments in round one, but falling back as the tournament progresses.

"I am delighted with the way I played, my putting was great today. I hit a lot of good shots and managed to hole a few putts for a change," Moore said about his 65, "I have been playing nicely for a while now and so it is just a case of trying to keep four rounds together. You obviously need a few breaks in your round too. But I have been playing nicely and it would be nice to break through, but there still is a long way to go."