Sam Bairstow and Fredrik From were the leaders in the clubhouse when the weather-affected first round of the Investec South African Open Championship was suspended on Thursday evening, with Darren Fichardt alongside them on seven under par with four holes still to complete.
The first round was delayed by three hours after heavy rain at Durban Country Club on Tuesday night led to areas of the course being submerged.
A mammoth effort from greenkeeping staff saw play get under way at 09:20 local time, with morning starters Bairstow and From signing for superb 65s to share the lead with the charging Fichardt at the end of the day.
England's Bairstow carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey. The highlight of his round was an enormous birdie putt on the par-four fifth.
Swede From, who has plenty of experience of playing in South Africa on the Sunshine Tour, made two eagles, four birdies and one bogey, while home favourite Fichardt birdied seven of his first 14 holes before play was suspended due to darkness at 18.20.
The later starters will return to the course at 08.00 on Friday to complete their opening rounds.
Richie Ramsay, Shubhankar Sharma, Jayden Schaper, Haotong Li and Todd Clements were one shot off the lead after their 66s.
Starting from the tenth tee, Bairstow turned in 32 blows after making birdies on the 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th.
After picking up another shot on the par-five third, Bairstow drained his monster birdie putt from around 50 feet at the fifth to join the lead.
He then sandwiched his only bogey of the day at the seventh between birdies on the sixth and eighth before safely parring the ninth to sign for a 65.
Bairstow said: "I putted really nicely. I hit a few wedges close and then holed a few putts.
"It was just a good day.
"Yesterday, walking down the 16th I thought there was going to be no chance (of playing on Thursday morning) but credit to the green staff for the work they've done and getting it playable."
From got off to a strong start, making an eagle on the third hole before firing back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth.
A dropped shot followed at the seventh but he bounced back with his second eagle of the day on the tenth.
He made two more birdies at the 12th and 13th before parring his way home.
From said: "The two eagles, I hit both of them quite stiff so it was not too much work.
"I putted OK and played pretty good. The driver was working nicely. It's the kind of golf course where you need to hit driver to get yourself opportunities.
"It feels like I'm representing both (the Swedish and South African) flags, to be honest. It would be lovely (to be up there on Sunday)."
South African five-time DP World Tour champion Fichardt birdied the second, third, fifth, sixth, tenth, 13th and 14th to join the early co-leaders at the top just before the later starters ran out of daylight.
