Kevin Phelan is just a shot off the pace in the pro-am but five behind in the chase for the top prize in the Sunshine Tour’s €300,000 Dimension Data Pro-Am at Fancourt.

As The Island’s Gavin Moynihan opened with a level par 73 on The Links at Fancourt and Royal Dubllin’s Jeff Hopkins shot a one over 73 on Montagu Course, Phelan’s two under 71 on The Links left him tied for 44th. Scores

After a round featuring six birdies and four bogeys, the Mount Juliet touring professional is five strokes behind co-leaders, South Africans Brandon Stone and Jaco Van Zyl and Italian Francesco Laporta.

They shot seven under 65s on the Montagu layout for a one-shot lead over compatriots Darren Fichardt, Hennie Otto, Jaco Prinsloo and Peter Karmis, Frenchman Julien Guerrier and Zambai’s Madalitso Muthiy.

Moynihan is tied for 75th after a four-birdie 73 on The Links while Hopkins, who won his Sunshine Tour card in December, is joint 96th after a 73 on the Montagu featuring three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey six.

In the Pro-Am standings, Phelan and his partner (N Patel) are tied fourth after a 10 under 63, just two shots off the lead. Scores

Moynihan and his partner (N Padgen) are tied 74th after a four under 69 alongside Hopkins and J James.