Britain's Brian Davis slept through a six-hour rain delay at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and then fired a four-under-par 68 for a one-shot first-round lead.

Overnight thunderstorms delayed the start at Houghton Golf Club

Rain left the course waterlogged, and although the fairways and greens drained well, some bunkers were still muddy pools when play eventually started at midday.

Davis started inauspiciously with a bogey at his first hole, the par-four 10th.

But three birdies saw him turn in two-under par, and a further three birdies on his back nine were marred only by a drop at the par-four ninth, where he missed a three-footer for par.

Davis, who bases himself in Florida, is one of five players who finished the day on three-under 69.

Welshman Ian Woosnam kept himself in contention with an opening 71 despite an erratic start.

South Africa's David Frost also finished with a 71, while pre-tournament favourite Retief Goosen returned a level-par 72.

British pair Peter Baker and Paul Broadhurst were both two-under-par after three holes when the day's play ended.

Only half of the 156-strong field completed their first round. The rest will do so on Friday morning, before going straight into the second round.

First-round scores in the Alfred Dunhill Championship, Houghton Golf Club, Johannesburg (Par 72, Gbr and Irl unless stated, )
Play suspended for the day, 78 players to complete first round tomorrow
68 B Davis
69 R McCann (USA), G Orr, M Gortana (Ita), P Golding
70 C Whitelaw (Rsa), J Senden (Aus), M Cayeux (Zim), N Van Rensburg (Rsa), S Webster
71 D Fichardt (Rsa), J Kingston (Rsa), S Ludgater (Rsa), A Forsyth, D Lynn, S Gallacher, I Woosnam, D Frost, A Hansen (Den), H Otto (Rsa), S Hansen (Den), A Cruse (Rsa), M Lafeber (Ned), R Stewart (Rsa), B Davison (Rsa)
72 R Goosen (Rsa), I Hutchings (Rsa), M Gronberg (Swe), D Howell, M Mackenzie, KH Han (Hong Kong), F Tarnaud (Fra), D Crawford (Rsa), N Fasth (Swe), T van der Walt (Rsa), P Nyman (Swe), M Brier (Aut)
73 C Williams, K Storgaard (Den), N Maart (Rsa), C Davison (Rsa), B Holphe (Rsa), B Liddle (Rsa), K Horne (Rsa)
74 T Johnstone (Zim), A Van Staden (Rsa), I Garbutt, P Lonard (Aus), J Sandelin (Swe), K Stone (Rsa), T Gogele (Ger), C Hanell (Swe)
75 D De Vooght (Bel), PG Nyman (Swe), S Yates, W Abery (Rsa), B Dredge, L McNeill (Rsa), S Rowe (USA), R Johnson (Swe), R Byrd (USA)
76 J Van de Velde (Fra), B Teilleria (Fra), S Daniels (Rsa), JF Remesy (Fra), B Vaughan (USA), R Bilbo Jnr (Rsa), T Immelman (Rsa), I Palmer (Rsa), G Owen
77 A Roestoff (Rsa), A McLardy (Rsa), O Sandys (Rsa), M Florioli (Ita)
78 R Dreyer (Rsa)
79 A McLean
80 J Robinson
81 J Bele (Rsa)