Ricky Hendler carried right on where he left off last week as he carded a six-under-par 66 on Monday to take a share of the first-round lead of the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour’s Race to Q-School #2 at Germiston Golf Club.

Hendler, who stormed to his maiden win last week at Modderfontein, made seven birdies and just one bogey to share the lead with England’s Harry Konig, who also made seven birdies and a bogey. The pair opened out a three-stroke lead over Slade Pickering, with Jade Buitendag and Sentanio Minnie sharing fourth on two-under.

Hendler took full advantage of the par-fives, birdie all four of them, but he a pair of birdies on two of the four par-threes. He was quickly into his work, with his first two birdies coming on the par-five second and the par-three third. He dropped a shot on the fourth, but got it right back on the par-five fifth, and he reached the turn in two-under. Birdies on 12, 13, 16 and 18 completed his scoring for the day.

There were three players on one-under-par 71 in a share of sixth, and 13 in a share of ninth at level-par.

There are 10 tournaments in the Race to Q-School series ahead of the Sunshine Tour’s Final Stage Qualifying School from 26-29 April.