ZIMBABWE’S Scott Vincent and Marc Cayeux struggled in the opening round of the European Tour sanctioned BMW South Africa Open at Glendower Golf Club Johannesburg South Africa on Thursday.

The duo are the only local players who have qualified for the prestigious event whose cut will be determined today.

BMW South Africa Open has a field of 143 players from across the globe and Zimbabwe is pinning its hopes on the two to make some comebacks today and proceed to the final two rounds.

The event will end on Sunday.

Vincent who played early yesterday morning finished the first round on four-over 76 to tie on position 132 going into Friday’s decisive round.

Vincent who is ranked 54th on the Sunshine Tour order of merit will have to fight hard this afternoon if he is to entertain any chances of progressing to the money phase.

The scores carded in the morning were better as most of the players who finished in the top ten were in the morning field.

Cayeux on the other side had a decent round for someone coming from an injury and was active in a few tournaments.

It looks promising for the nine time sunshine tour winner as he finished on three over and will only need to improve on his game on Friday.

The morning field looked favorable on Thursday and if it continues like that then the country will entertain hopes of having a representative after today’s cut.

South Africa’s Travor Fisher (Jnr) took an early lead at six-under par after he made seven birdies in eight holes from the 12th to the first and parred his way home for a 66 which was later tied by countrymen Keith Horne who played in the afternoon field.
World number two Rory McIlroy who is also part of the field made an impressive start with a new set of clubs, shooting a five-under 67.

The Irishman was making his first appearance at the tournament since 2008 and he managed to roll in seven birdies — including four straight from holes 14-17 after starting at the 10th.

Thomas Aiken and Dean Burmester were alongside McIlroy after a five-under 67.

Els and defending champion Brandon Stone started with two over 74.

South African players have won 13 of the last 19 editions of the SA Open, and three of the top four among the early starters were home players.