Retief Goosen was one of two South African Hall-of-Famers in a share of fifth after the first round on Thursday of the ISPS Handa Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire, England.

Although he never won the Open Championship, his compatriot Ernie Els did, twice, and they joined seven other players on three-under-par. That was four strokes off the lead which was held by New Zealand’s Steven Alker, who had an eagle, six birdies and a bogey to lead by one from Australian Mark Hensby.

Hensby opened with five birdies in a row, and a sixth saw him turn in 29. He made just a solitary birdie on the way home, with one bogey seeing him reach six-under-par 64 on the par-70 layout.

Goosen made three birdies on the front nine, and he reached five-under-par for his round with an eagle-three on the 14th. But he bogeyed the 17th and 18th to slip back to his closing three-under 67.

Els made four birdies on the front nine, with two bogeys and a birdie on his way home.

Darren Fichardt was in a share of 14th on two-under, while Adilson Da Silva opened with a one-under 69 for a share of 26th. Keith Horne was on level-par in a share of 42nd, and James Kingston was on one-over in a share of 69th. Ryan Dreyer signed for a four-over-par 74.