THERE was a wide contrast in fortunes for North Yorkshire duo Simon Dyson and John Parry after the opening round of the East Africa Open.

York-born Dyson has left himself with much to do to beat the midway cut after the Malton & Norton Golf Club ace shot a three-over-par 75 at the East London course.

The world number 148 started well enough with a birdie four on the par-five opening hole, but then dropped shots on the second, sixth, ninth, tenth and 14th holes before a late flourish when birdying the par-five 14th for his 75 and languishing in a 22-way tie for 111th place.

Knaresborough’s Parry, who plays out of Harrogate GC, however, was in joint second place alongside two other players, after a topsy-turvy start to his four-under-par 68 - one shot adrift of first day leader Kevin Phelan of Ireland.

Parry double-bogeyed the par-four fourth but got those two shots back instantly when he eagled the par-four fifth. He also carded four birdies in the last six holes to stake a claim for honours.