A birdie-birdie-eagle, front-nine start powered South African Nic Henning to a course record-equalling 62 and a one-stroke lead at the Joburg Open on Thursday.

The 45-year-old is one shot ahead of compatriots Titch Moore and Tjaart van der Walt and Belgian Thomas Pieters at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

Australian Jason Schrivener sits another stroke behind on eight under par with South Africans Dean Burmester and Garth Mulroy.

Henning, from the Western Cape resort of Knysna, did not perform like a golfer without a tournament triumph in nine years.

It did help, though, that he played on the west course — considered easier that the east — in the two-course European Tour co-sanctioned event.

Four under after three holes, Henning snatched three more front-nine birdies for a half of 29, seven under in perfect, late South African summer conditions.

His hot streak cooled on the second nine with just two birdies, but he did not drop a shot and matched the eight-year course record of compatriot Desvonde Botes.

“It was fantastic,” four-time Sunshine Tour winner Henning told reporters.

“For each shot you stand over the ball and decide to hit it as best you can. That worked today and hopefully I can carry it on.”

Dane Joachim Hansen, among six golfers to card 65s, needed only 28 shots to cover the second nine of the west course.

He picked up an eagle and five birdies and did not score higher than three on six consecutive holes from the 12th.

South African George Coetzee launched his Joburg Open title defence with a 66 while new Europe Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland had to settle for a 72.