An eagle and five birdies on Thursday saw JC Ritchie into a share of eighth after the first round of the HotelPlanner Tour’s German Challenge at Wittelsbacher Golfclub in Neuburg an der Donau.

Ritchie also made two bogeys as he reached five-under-par 67. That put him two strokes off the lead which was shared by Tomás Bessa of Portugal and Julien Quesne of France at seven-under-par. They were a shot clear of five players in a share of third.

Ritchie shared eighth with four other players, including fellow-South African Bryce Easton. Easton also had an eagle and five birdies, and his dropped shots came from a single double-bogey on the fifth hole.