A ROUND of two halves will be Simon Dyson’s verdict on his return to the European golf tour.

Dyson finished the first day of the South African Open yesterday two-under-par after an opening round of 70, where he started on the tenth and his first nine contrasted sharply with the outward nine holes.

The world number 32, bidding to finish a glorious year in the leading 20 players, was unable to make any inroads as a run of pars was interrupted by dropped shots on the 12th and 17th holes to leave him two-over. But the Malton and Norton Golf Club ace then scorched his way through the opening nine holes at the Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate complex.

He got a birdie on the par four first and then swept into even more of a course-taming rhythm.

He went two-under on the fifth and improved his standing with a brace of birdies on the eighth and ninth holes to put him on two-under and in a share of 34th place.

Like Dyson, Harrogate GC player John Parry also posted a 70.

He carded birdies on holes three, four nine and 13, but suffered dropped shots on the seventh and eighth.

Out in front after the first day on seven-under were Scotland’s Steven O’Hara, whose 65 was matched by South Africa’s Jbe Kruger.

After that duo were no fewer than five more South Africans, including Garth Mulroy, who, along with Retief Goosen, partnered Dyson.

Former Heworth pro Neil Cheetham, now playing out of CC Johannesburg, was five-over-par after his opening round.