A deluge in Durban caused a seven-hour delay to the Nelson Mandela Championship, but Alastair Forsyth got himself home and dry with a steady opening round.

The two-time European Tour winner - who has made the cut in his first two events of the new season, having regained his card at last month's qualifying school - posted a two-under 68 over a sodden Mount Edgecombe Country Club course.

That left the Paisley golfer six shots behind English pacesetter Daniel Brooks, who roared to the front with a sizzling 62 before play was suspended in the fading light.

Hot on his heels are French trio Francois Calmels, Edouard Dubois and Romain Wattel.

Calmels is outright second, one shot back from Brooks, while Dubois and Wattel are tied for third on seven-under.

Clydebank's Scott Henry had managed just one hole before the hooter went to signal the end of proceedings.

Defending champion Scott Jamieson was among a number of groups who still had to start.

The Glasgow ace picked up his maiden Tour title in this event a year ago - when the tournament was reduced to 36 holes due to heavy rain - and officials are already playing catch-up again this week.

Brooks, who retained his Tour card at qualifying school after a disappointing rookie campaign in 2013, produced eight birdies in his bogey-free round.

Although play was suspended shortly after he birdied the 17th hole, the Englishman decided to carry on and finish his round.

"I was completely focused on getting to the 18th tee box when we got called in," Brooks said.

"That probably helped, in a way, because I just kept playing and the result was good.

"It's not too bad and they've shortened a few holes as well. If you're hitting it on the fairways it's pretty scoreable."

The championship was brought forward a day to avoid a clash with Nelson Mandela's state funeral on Sunday.