Intro:

Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen and South Korea's Jeunghun Wang share a one-stroke lead at six-under par, after the opening round of the Mauritius Open on Thursday.

Script:

It was an historic day in Mauritius for the first round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on Thursday.

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat and South Africa's George Coetzee stood side-by-side on the beach in Mauritius to symbolise the first ever tri-sanctioned event between the European, Asian and Sunshine Tours.

The trio will play together for the opening two rounds as the three tours unite for the first time.

There were mixed fortunes for the threesome though.

Aphibarnrat struggled through a nightmarish 18 holes, that saw him end the day in a tie for a 123rd after shooting a 77 - an eagle at 18 going some way to sparing the Thai golfer's blushes.

Bjorn also struggled for consistency.

He collected five bogeys and a brace of birdies in a round of 74.

Bjorn is three over after day one, but Coetzee made a better start.

The South African shot a rollercoaster 70 to finish one-under par.

Dean Burmester enjoyed a productive first round at the Heritage Golf Club.

The South African found five birdies in an almost flawless card - a lone bogey at 18 the only blemish in a promising 67.

Oliver Bekker went one better with a 66, an eagle at 18th the highlight of a solid opening round.

Bekker will begin day two alongside Terry Pilkadaris with a share of fourth, five under par.

After 18 holes the lead belongs to Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen and Jeunghun Wang.

Both players opened their accounts with rounds of 65, matching the course record.

Wang's the more notable purely becaue the South Korean failed to drop a shot in a round of six birdies and 12 pars.

Olesen and Wang share the lead at six-under and hold a one-stroke lead.