Promising start sees Yorkshire trio in the hunt

Rotherham's Danny Willett fired seven birdies in a six-under par 65 to share the lead on the East course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington.

He is three shots off the lead held by local man Neil Schietekat, who shot a 62 on the slightly easier West course, which Willett plays his second round on today.

Harrogate's John Parry shot his best round since graduating onto the European Tour from the Challenge Tour.

Parry, playing on the west course, had an eagle and six birdies in a 66 that puts the 23-year-old into a share of 13th place, after missed cuts in each of his three previous events.

And Sheffield's Neil Cheetham, 43, is making the most of his exemption into the tournament through his finish on last year's Sunshine Challenge with a bogey-free 67 on the west course.

A week after winning the Africa Open and going top of the Tour money list, South African Charl Schwartzel birdied eight of the first 11 holes on the West course en route to an eight-under par 63.

Any thoughts of a 59 went when the home favourite double-bogeyed the 450-yard 12th, but a tee shot to within six feet of the flag on the next helped him get back on track and a 10th birdie of the round followed at the 16th.

Former Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke reached the turn in a five-under 31 and then three more birdies followed on the back nine to move him to within one of the lead. It was the Ulsterman's best round on Tour since 1999.

Alistair Forsyth matched Clarke's front nine and two birdies in his final three holes completed a fine round. Barry Lane, 49, was tackling the longer and tougher East course and matched Willett's 65.

Both lay-outs are used for the opening two rounds before the weekend action all comes on the East. Placing of the ball was being allowed because of heavy recent rain.

Lane, who becomes eligible for the Seniors Tour in June, began his 649th Tour event – he is second to Sam Torrance in the all-time list – with a bogey, but birdied five of the next eight and picked up another shot with a 12-footer at the 13th.

Hull's Richard Finch has a battle on to make the cut in his first tournament of 2010 after a one-over par 72 on the East.

Peter Senior is on course to grab a place in the Open Championship at St Andrews this July.

An opening 69 at the 36-hole international qualifier at Kingston Heath in Melbourne left 50-year-old Senior joint second overnight with Aaron Townsend, one behind their fellow Australian Ewan Porter.

A 44-strong field – 78 players could have entered – are competing for three spots.