McDonald takes early lead over Els at dunhill

MALELANE, South Africa -- Bruce McDonald of Zimbabwe upstaged Ernie Els with a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over the South African star at the European Tour's season opening dunhill Championship.

While most of the field struggled to break par at the Leopard Creek Country Club, McDonald, who turned pro a year ago, mastered the unexpectedly cool, blustery conditions after a week of temperatures soaring to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Els, in contention for his sixth title of 2004, produced the only bogey-free round of the day to settle himself one shot back in second.

England's Neil Cheetham, Benoit Teilleri of Italy, Frenchman Raphael Eyraud and 22-year-old South African James Kamte -- a graduate from the Ernie Els Foundation -- are all grouped one shot further back after carding 68.

McDonald, 23, from Bulawayo, made eight birdies and dropped just two shots at the most significant event of his short career.

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