Mark Power might have been a late arrival to the Magical Kenya Open but he got started early with a solid three-under 67 to sit just outside the top-20 after the opening day in Nairobi.
Power, who received a sponsors invitation on Tuesday barely got to see the golf course at Karen Country Club but found most of it to his liking as he fired three birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to share 34th place and he is five shots off the lead shared by Niklas Lemke and Casey Jarvis.
The Kilkenny man hasn’t played since the final round of DP World Tour Q-School where he won a HotelPlanner Tour card but most likely won’t get a start until April, but there were little signs of rust and a quick 10pc adjustment to cope with the altitude paid dividends.
Starting on the 10th, the two-time Walker Cup player birdied the 12th. After dropping a shot on the 15th he ended his opening nine in style with a birdie on the par-3 16th and a superb eagle on the par-5 18th.
The 25-year-old bounced back from a bogey on 3 to birdie the 8th and cap off a fine effort after arriving at the eleventh hour.
At the top, Jarvis fired ten birdies to share the first-round lead with Lemke on eight-under 62.
“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 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.”
Lemke finished with an eagle to cap off a flawless round and he was pleased with his career low round.
“I think I’ve shot eight under before but not a 62, so I’m pleased with that,” he said afterwards.
“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.”
Leave a comment