Frost turns up the heat in Open qualifier

David Frost shot a seven-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead in the South African qualifying leg for the 2005 Open Championship here yesterday.

David Frost shot a seven-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead in the South African qualifying leg for the 2005 Open Championship here yesterday.

The veteran South African led compatriot Louis Oosthuizen and Switzerland's Andre Bossert by a shot at the par-72 Atlantic Beach Course. Out of a field of 33, the top three after 36 holes will earn the right to play at the 134th Open, at St Andrews in July.

Frost, 45, who failed to retain his US Tour card at the end of 2004, last played in the Open in 2000. "I've played over 150 rounds at St Andrews so it would be good to get back there," Frost said.

This is the first of five international qualifying events introduced by the Royal and Ancient last year to help overseas players to qualify for the oldest major.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING CUP (Cape Town) First-round scores (SA unless stated): 65 D Frost. 66 A Bossert (Swit), L Oosthuizen. 68 T Moore, O Sandys. 69 D McGuigan (Sco), M Lamb (Zim), F Allem, T van der Walt. 70 M Mouland (Wal). 71 G Muller, T Clark, J Kingston. 72 W Druian, A Michell, J Hugo, T Auret. 73 M Murless, D Ryan, A Cruse. 74 A McLardy, M Kirk, H Alberts, B Painting (Zim). 75 S Norris. 76 W Bradley, A McLean (Sco), D Faught. 78 I Hutchings, R Reid. 79 B Vaughan. 81 J Backstrom (Swe). 82 T Aiken.