Elson and McGrane share clubhouse lead at Joburg Open (From The Northern Echo)

Elson and McGrane share clubhouse lead at Joburg Open

12:00pm Friday 13th January 2012 in From The Fairway

England’s Jamie Elson and Ireland’s Damien McGrane share the clubhouse lead after a weather-interrupted first round of the Joburg Open.

Elson, who holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the final green of the European Tour’s qualifying school at the end of last year to secure his card, made a flying start to 2012 with an eight-under-par 63 on Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s West Course. That matched the earlier effort of McGrane, who managed to reach the clubhouse before thunderstorms halted play.

In total around four hours were lost because of the threat of lightning, with some players unable to complete their rounds before darkness set in as a result.