George, South Africa: SSP Chowrasia looked set to end the opening day of his 2012 campaign on the European Tour with a par round till he ended with a double bogey to drop to two-over 75 at the par-73 course to be tied in 28th place in the Volvo Golf Champions here.
Chowrasia was tied in 28th place with Open winner, Darren Clarke and Englishman Simon Dyson.
Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts broke the course record with a dazzling nine-under 64. He birdied nine of the last 11 holes, including the final four, to establish an early-four stroke lead over England's David Horsey, Dutchman Joost Luiten and South African Thomas Aiken.
Aiken, Branden Grace and young Tom Lewis were tied second, but four shots behind Colsaerts. The trio shot five-under 68 each.
Padraig Harrington was one shot behind them.
The tournament brings together last season's winners on the European Tour and most of the big guns were out later in the day.
Ernie Els - not yet exempt for April's Masters Tournament after falling outside the Official World Golf Ranking's top 70 - bogeyed two of his first three holes, but then birdied the last three to finish at one-under 72 and in tied 11th place.
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