Casey Jarvis and Niklas Lemke will share a one-stroke lead heading into the second round of the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa after each carding rounds of 62 at Karen Country Club on Thursday.
Related: Jacques Kruyswijk keen to make more magic in Kenya
It was a faultless performance from Sweden’s Lemke, whose bogey-free round featured highlights aplenty and set the initial clubhouse target.
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After two birdies on the front nine, the 41-year-old made gains at alternate holes on the way home, birdieing the tenth, 12th, 14th and 16th, before setting up a tap-in eagle to cap off the fast start.
He was later joined by South African Jarvis, who fired 10 birdies in his afternoon timeslot, bouncing back after a bogey on his opening hole – he birdied six of the next seven to go out in 30.
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The 22-year-old picked up another shot at the tenth, which was cancelled out by a bogey at the 13th, but again the response was immediate; he birdied the next two and made another on the 18th.
Scotland’s David Law and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat were one stroke off the lead at seven under, finishing with eight birdies and a bogey in their respective rounds.
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Lemke’s fellow Swedes Joakim Lagergren and Mikael Lindberg were in a group at six under alongside American Ryggs Johnston, Spaniard Angel Ayora and Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia.
Defending champion Jacques Kruyswijk was three under after a 67 that featured chip-ins at the second and third, the former for an eagle out of a bunker and the latter for a birdie.
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Player quotes
Casey Jarvis: I’m super pleased with the round. I started off with a bogey and thought it wasn’t going to be the best day, but I turned it around pretty quickly and I’m pleased with what I shot.
I came into the week saying I should be really aggressive, and I think I was pretty aggressive off the tees. I hit the driver nicely and I took advantage of that.
Around a course like this, I think if you’re on with your driver, you can shoot pretty low. I think being aggressive on a course like this does suit me in a way.
It’s tough to look ahead of what can happen, so I just stay present and in the moment. Whatever happens, happens.
Niklas Lemke: I think I’ve shot eight-under before but not a 62, so I’m pleased with that. It was a nice way to finish. I played fairly solid the whole day. I started off a little so-so, but I found my golf striking on the back nine, so it was a good day.
I like these kinds of golf courses. They are a little short, old school, tricky. You have to think your way around it a little bit. I enjoy being here.
It’s tricky (the altitude). We’re starting off at 10 percent, and you have to work yourself off that. The wind is what’s doing the trick here – how much the wind is going to affect it. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s a little bit of a guessing game out there as well.
