Darren Clarke made has made a solid, if unspectacular, start to the Joburg Open this morning to lie one-over after nine holes.

Clarke, hoping to build on the momentum gained during his visit to South Africa last month, carded a pair of bogeys on the outward loop but a birdie at the eighth helped steady the ship.

Heading the leaderboard in the early stages are a trio of home-based players  - Ryan Reid, Garth Mulroy and Mark Murless - who are joined on five-under by the Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal.

Michael Hoey heads the Irish challenge at this stage, the Belfast player on level par through six holes, while Colm Moriarty, Gareth Maybin and Stephen Browne have yet to tee off at Royal Johannesburg.