Ross Fisher was in sizzling form shooting a 66 to lead after the opening round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

The 34 year old Englishman, who had the last of his five European Tour wins at the Tshwane Open in South Africa during March, holds a two shot advantage over George Coetzee, Marcel Siem and Alexander Levy at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.

Siem, playing in a group with Fisher and Coetzee, produced perhaps the most remarkable shot of the day. With an eight iron, his 183 yard approach to the par four 17th deflected off the right edge of the green and then headed straight for the flag and disappearing into the cup.

The effort earner the reigning BMW Masters winner a new Volvo V40 T5 sedan.

Siem could not believe his good fortune punching his right arm into the air and singing out ‘C’mon’  ahead of high fives all round.

Fisher dropped just one shot in his round, at the par three 16th, and made all of his gains in birdies.

He was level on five under with Coetzee after both carded birdie fours at the tenth, but moved ahead at the par five 14th when the South African did well to recover from a wayward approach for a par. Fisher doubled his advantage at the next, a par four, only to then slip up on 16. However, Coetzee dropped his sole shot at the last to sit alongside Siem and Levy.

Europe Ryder Cup player Stephen Gallacher, European Tour 2014 Rookie of the Year Brooks Koepka and Miguel Angel Jiménez, the first player to tee off on the second longest course in European Tour history, are in a group of six on two under.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who is seeking to further cement his place inside the world’s top-50, battled his way to a level par 72.

Ross Fisher on route to a 66 on day one of the Nedbank Challenge. (Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)

And defending champion Thomas Bjørn had a poor first round, sitting last in the field of 30 on eight over.