Shaun Norris went bogey-free on Thursday on his way to a five-under-par 67 and a share of seventh in the opening round of the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship at Yas Links Golf Club.

He shared seventh with, amongst others, Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai, and they were a substantial five strokes behind the leader, Francesco Laporta, who had a brilliant 10-under-par 62.

The Italian, who spent three years on the Sunshine Tour from 2013 to 2015, playing out of Glendower, made an eagle and eight birdies to open up a three-stroke lead over Jon Rahm, Bernd Wiesberger and Sam Bairstow.

In a share of fifth were Adrian Meronk and Matthew Jordan, and then came the five players who shared seventh with Norris.

Next best of the South Africans were Michael Hollick and Jayden Schaper on four-under. Hollick made a double-bogey on the ninth and a bogey on the 18th. But for those drops, he could have been in a share of second. Schaper had three bogeys on his card.

JC Ritchie was on three-under in a share of 22nd, and Richard Sterne and Casey Jarvis were on two-under in a share of 33rd.

Also on two-under was Rory McIlroy, who is trying to win his eighth Race to Dubai title. The man who leads that race currently, Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra, was also on two-under-par.

Thriston Lawrence was on level-par, and Hennie du Plessis was on two over together with the man currently in second on the Race to Dubai, Patrick Reed.

Yurav Premlall battled to a six-over 78.