Tyrrell Hatton is three-under par after completing the first round of the Joburg Open on Thursday.

The Marlow man shot a round of 69 at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club having carded four birdies and one bogey after the first 18 holes of play.

If the Harleyford Golf Club member can secure a top ten finish at the tournament he will earn a place at this year’s Open Championship at St Andrews which take place on 16-19 July.

He’s currently tied for 43rd place on the leader board, with home favourite Nic Henning leading the way after he equalled the course record with a round of nine-under par. Fellow South Africans Titch Moore, Tjaart van der Walt, Dean Burmester and Garth Mulroy are also in the top seven.