Starting on the 10th hole, the 31-year-old South African opened his campaign with an eagle, before adding a birdie at the 13th. He then dropped a shot at the 15th, bounced back with a birdie at the 18th, and turned for the front nine. After the crossover, Ritchie made three consecutive birdies at the second, third and fourth holes, before a double bogey at the sixth checked his momentum. With Ritchie leading the South African challenge, Christiaan Maas also made a solid start, opening with a two-under-par 70 to sit tied for 12th place. Maas recorded four birdies and two bogeys in his opening round. Zander Lombard, Hennie du Plessis, Michael Hollick and Jayden Schaper are a further stroke back on one-under-par 71, forming part of a 17-way tie for 24th position. Jacques Kruyswijk and Dylan Frittelli opened with level-par 72s and are tied for 41st. Dylan Naidoo, Casey Jarvis and Richard Sterne are tied for 73rd after opening rounds of 74, while Brandon Stone, Thriston Lawrence, Darren Fichardt and Ockie Strydom sit tied for 104th following rounds of 76. Shaun Norris carded an 80 and is currently in 124th position.