Casey Jarvis responded to a bogey on Thursday in typical fashion: He reeled off five successive birdies to card a seven-under-par 65 in the first round of the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The fast finish – those five birdies came on the last five holes – put him just one shot off the lead which was shared at eight-under-par 64 by Ludvig Aberg of Sweden and Tom Vaillant of France when darkness saw play suspended. There was an earlier stoppage because of a thunderstorm.

“I struggled a little bit off the tee early on but my putter kind of saved me a little,” said Jarvis. “And yeah, I rolled in a few good putts towards the end. So very pleased with that.”

Jarvis made three birdies in a solid display up until his bogey on the 13th. “I made a soft bogey on 13 and I kind of bounced back very well and made I think five birdies in a row coming in,” he said.

“I just stayed positive, and finished strong. I struggled a little bit off the tee early on but my putter kind of saved me a little. I rolled in a few good putts towards the end. I’m very pleased with that.

“I’ve been playing nicely lately. Just the results haven’t been showing how nicely I’ve been playing. So to post seven-under today my first time around Wentworth is very special. It’s unreal to see all the fans. It’s honestly special and I’m looking forward to the next three days.”

Next-best of the South Africans was Darren Fichardt, who opened with a five-under-par 67 to be in a share of eighth. Jacques Kruyswijk was a shot further back on four-under, and reigning South African Open champion Dylan Naidoo carded a three-under 69 for a share of 33rd.