Hoey opens with 64 in Joburg

Michael Hoey scorched out of the blocks when he carded a sensational seven-under par 64 in the first round of the Joburg Open.

The Ulsterman , who carded a 75 in the opening round last year, is just a stroke off the pace set by Swede Steven Jeppesen and South Africa's Trevor Fisher Jnr.

Playing with Noel Fox (72) Hoey was six under par after 11 holes on the East course at Royal Johannesburg, finishing birdie-bogey-birdie to equal his lowest ever round on tour.

Hoey said: "I am pretty happy, I played here last year and the weather wasn't great.

"It didn't help as I wasn't playing well at all. But today it was pretty hot so the ball was going longer and that helped. I got off to a good start as well."

Derry's Mick McGeady is tied for 109th on his European Tour debut after a level par 71 with Fox and Jonny Caldwell joint 130th after one over par 72s.