Darren Fichardt made seven birdies on Thursday in the first round of the DP World Tour’s Mallorca Golf Open at Son Muntaner Golf Club in Palma, Mallorca on his way to a five-under-par 66 to be in a share of sixth place.

Fichardt also made two bogeys – one on each nine – as he finished the first round three shots behind the course-record of Marcus Armitage, who made eight birdies and no bogeys on his way to a 63. Armitage led by one from Daan Huizing of the Netherlands. Three players – Alejandro Canizares of Spain, Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard and Austrian Lucas Nemecz – were in a share of third on six-under-par.

Fichardt shared sixth with Thailand’s Jazz Janewattenanond, while the next best of the South Africans was Justin Walters on three-under-par in a share of 16^th.

Daniel van Tonder and Brandon Stone were on two-under in a share of 31^st while Louis de Jager was on level-par in a share of 62^nd together with Haydn Porteous and Erik van Rooyen.

Richard Sterne battled to a three-over 74 to be in a share of 101^st.