Greg Snow in action today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Greg Snow, winner of the 2018/19 Safari Tour Golf Series, continued to struggle with form on the second round of the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship, returning a 1-over par 72 score for a tournament total of 3-over par 145.

With the projected cut set at 1-over par, his total score effectively leaves him out of contention to play in the final two rounds of the tournament.

He started off the round steadily, holding par at the par-4, 10^th, before holing consecutive birdies at the par-5, 11^th and the par-5, 12^th. He held par on the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th holes, before hitting consecutive bogeys at the 16^th and 17^th holes to card a total of 36.

On the first nine, where he struggled with form on round one of the tournament, he carded a total of 36 courtesy of two birdies at the par-4, first and the par-4, seventh; a bogey on the par-4, third and a double-bogey on the par-5, sixth.

Snow, who came into the tournament as one of Kenya’s favorites to challenge at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open, had yesterday said that his objective today was to enjoy himself on the course and get the best out of the round.

He played in the company of the victorious 2018 Ryder Cup Captain, Thomas Bjorn (who played one-under for the day for a tournament total of 2-under par 140) and winner of the 2019 Qatar Open, Justin Harding from South Africa, who finished the round with a 6-under par score for a tournament total of 7-under par 135.

England’s Jack Singh Brar in action during the 2019 Magical Kenya Open.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

England’s Jack Singh Brar and South Africa’s Louis De Jager returned a score of 7-under par to share the lead after round one of the 2019 Magical Kenya Open, played at the Karen Country Club on Thursday.

Singh started off his round in steady fashion, not dropping a shot in the opening five holes, before turning on the style with an eagle on the par-5 sixth, following it up with a hat trick of birdies on the par-4 seventh, eighth and ninth for a first nine score of 30, 5-under par.

He kept his form going after turning with further birdies on the par-5 11th and 12th, while holding par on the rest of the holes to return a blemish free card of 7-under par, 64 for the round.

Speaking after his round, Singh mentioned how the Karen Course was different from the ones he is used to and how he managed to hit the right shots at the right time.

“Through the round I got up and down when I needed to and then I was five under through my last four – a great way to finish the round. It was my first time at this course, it is very different to a lot of the courses that we play, it’s quite quirky, and that is something which has suited me in the past, and I like it here.”

On his part Louis had a slow start, dropping two shots at the par-3 second, but recovering with birdies on the par-4 third and par-3 fourth holes. He wrapped up the front nine in great form, picking up a further four shots in the last three holes to return a score of 30, 5-under par at the half way point.

He went on to pick up further shots at the par-5 12th and par-4 13th, before faltering with a bogey on the par-3 14th, a further birdie at the 18th saw him return a score of 34, 2-under par for a total score of 7-under par 64 on the day.

Speaking on his round, De Jager mentioned how great it was to be back in Africa and how glad he was that he was playing well.

“It is always nice to be back in Africa, and when we came here on Tuesday, I felt right at home on my home continent and it felt very similar with the altitude to Pretoria which is home for me. I have been hitting it really well over the past two weeks and I did that again today, but just managed to hole a few putts too.” 

“It was a lot windier today than I am used to here, so to come away with the score that I did was really satisfying.” He added.

The two finished one shot ahead of India’s Bhullar Gaganjeet (-6) and the pair of Spain’s Adri Arnaus and Nothern Ireland’s Michael Hoey who finished on 5-under par. On what was a low scoring and windy round one at the Karen Country Club.

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn finished the round tied for 24th, on a score of 1-under par, alongside the 2016 Kenya Open winner Sebastian Soderberg. 

Thika Golf Club’s Simon Ngige led the Kenyan players after the round, returning a score of 3-under par, 68 to place him 13th on the leader board, one stroke ahead of Mumias based hard hitter Dismas Indiza.

Round two action is set to tee off at 7:20 AM, with the field of 144 golfers looking to make the CUT to play in the third and fourth rounds.