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Van Rooyen leads in Limpopo

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MODIMOLLE, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 20: Erik van Rooyen during day 1 of the 2016 Vodacom Origins Euphoria at Euphoria Golf Estate and Hydro on October 20, 2016 in Modimolle, South Africa. EDITOR'S NOTE: For free editorial use. Not available for sale. No commercial usage. (Photo by Petri Oeschger/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images)

Erik van Rooyen ripped up the front nine at Euphoria Golf Estate on Thursday, reaching the turn in five under par on his way to the sole lead in round one of the Origins of Golf tournament.

A shakier back nine that included an eagle, two birdies and three bogeys put the 26-year-old in the clubhouse on six under par and one stroke clear of second-placed Jaco Ahlers.

Van Rooyen has three top 10s to show from his last five starts on the Sunshine Tour, and the good form continued on Thursday as he moved to the front in Limpopo.

There are two rounds remaining in the R700,000 tournament and the Stellenbosch local will have to keep the scores coming in order to hold off Ahlers and third-placed Jacques Kruyswijk and Hennie du Plessis.

Van Rooyen has 13 top 10s since turning professional in 2014, but is yet to break through and win. It’s a good time of the season to be playing well, and a victory this week could set up the remainder of his year.