CHEONAN, Sept 9: South African Hendrik Buhrmann eclipsed superstar compatriot Ernie Els by taking the first round lead in the US$400,000 Kolon Korean Open on Thursday.

The 41-year-old Buhrmann carded a superb four-under-par 68 at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club to lead the Asian Tour event by two shots over fellow South African Nico Van Rensburg and Australians Richard Moir and Terry Pilkadaris.

Tournament draw card and world number three Els carded a 71 on a day when only eight players broke par due to tough playing conditions. Local veteran pair Choi Sang-Ho and Kwon Oh-Chul together with Mo Joong-Kyung are tied alongside Els.

Kim Dae-Sub, who won the Korean Open title twice while still an amateur, India's Arjun Singh, Korean amateur Kang Sung-Hoon, Simon Yates of Scotland, American Greg Hanrahan and Australian Adam Groom all shot 72s.

On the par-72, 7,047-yard layout with tight fairways and treacherous rough, Burhmann dazzled with six birdies, an eagle and four bogeys and was delighted to be in pole position, especially after a poor first six months to the year where he missed five cuts in eight starts.

Starting from the 10th, Els turned in one-over with two birdies against a dropped shot but back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth saw his name go up the leader board. Kevin Na, back from the US PGA Tour where he has kept his card for 2005, got off to a jittery start, shooting a 73.

The 20-year-old said he was nervous playing on home soil for the first time this year. Van Rensburg, a three-time winner in Asia but not since 1999, could have tied Buhrmann for the lead if not for a double bogey on his last hole. He blocked his shot into trees and with no option to play out, he headed back to tee it up again.

FIRST ROUND SCORES