Ulrich Van den Berg is the early leader of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, the first tournament of the new 2010 season.

The 34-year-old South African impressed with an opening round of 65 at Leopard Creek, one shot clear of Sweden's Pelle Edberg.

Edberg no longer has a full European Tour card but earned a place in the opening event of the new season thanks to his 132nd-place finish in the 2009 campaign.

Birdies at five of the last seven holes lifted Edberg's spirits and took him one shot clear of third-placed Titch Moore, another South African, who shot a six-under-par 66.

Alongside Moore is Italian Edoardo Molinari while the group one shot further back includes Irish pair Damien McGrane and Shane Lowry as well as Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, the winner of last month's Hong Kong Open.

Pre-tournament favourite Ernie Els is four shots behind Van den Berg on four-under.