It wasn’t the start the South Africans wanted who got a chance to tee it up on the PGA Tour on Thursday as Thomas Aiken was one of two South Africans on one-under-par 69 in the first round of the ISCO Championship at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

Aiken made three birdies and two bogeys to be in a share of 37th with, amongst others, Richard Sterne, who also had three birdies and two bogeys. They were eight strokes off the lead which was held at none-under-par by Chan Kim of the United States. Kim led by four from Callum Shinkwin of England, Germany’s Thomas Rosenmueller and American Peter Malnati.

The tournament is a co-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, being played opposite the Genesis Scottish Open, so some DP World Tour players get a chance in the United States.

The veterans Aiken and Sterne were able to take some advantage of the opportunity, but Robin Williams and Casey Jarvis battled their way to four-over and five-over respectively.

MJ Daffue opened with a two-over-par 72 for a share of 91st.