Werner Deyzel made an eagle, six birdies and a bogey on Tuesday on his way to a seven-under-par 65 in the first round of the Bushveld Tour’s Race to Q-School #5 at Services Golf Club in Pretoria.

He was one stroke clear of Francois van Staden, whose six-under 66 had seven birdies and a bogey, while Christiaan Pretorius, Jason Froneman, Chase Paton and William Geach shared third place on five-under-par 67. There were five players on four-under-par 66 in a share of seventh.

Deyzel started his round with two early birdies, on the second and third, and then he got down in three on the par-five ninth ahead of the turn. He picked up another shot on the 12^th, before making his only bogey on the 14^th. He more than made up for that slip-up with three more birdies on the home stretch.

The Race to Sunshine Tour Q-school series got underway on 20 November last year, and continues to 5 April this year. The series includes 13 tournaments and the Order of Merit is based on a points system where the top 30 finishers from each tournament will receive points.

The first 10 players on that Order of Merit will have their entry fees paid for and exemption into the final stage of the 2024-25 Sunshine Tour Qualifying School. Those in 10^th to 20^th place will have their entry fees paid for into the first stage of the 2024-25 Sunshine Tour Qualifying School.