Benjamin Hebert leads a one-shot lead in Kenya, with Sam Horsfield among seven players sharing second place; European Tour Productions unable to provide world-class TV feed for second round on Friday due to “ongoing supply problems”
Le Ali Stafford
Last updated: 18/03/21 5:46 pm
1:44
Sam Horsfield is reflecting on celebrating his first European Tour look of the season with the opening 65 rounds at the Kenya Magical Open.
Sam Horsfield is reflecting on celebrating his first European Tour look of the season with the opening 65 rounds at the Kenya Magical Open.
Sam Horsfield marked his first European Tour look of the season by getting inside a glimpse of the early lead at the Kenya Magical Open.
The Englishman, who did not emerge from the DP World Tour Championship in December due to a back injury, repaired six under-65s at Karen Country Club to keep in touch with early packer Benjamin Hebert.
Horsfield, starting at the back of nine, started fishing three of his opening four holes but then made back bogs from the 14th, with the No. 108 world under his lap until he ran smoothly over. on the closing holes.
Horsfield won the Hero Open and Celtic Classic during the 2020 race to the Dubai season
The two-time European Tour winner followed birdies back from the fifth with a chip eagle from off the green seventh, before closing off his strong start by picking up a scene at the ninth par-four.
“It’s great to be 100 percent back and forth here with the boys competing,” Horsfield said. “I only hit two drivers today, at 17 and seven. The ball goes so far here by being at a height of 6,000 feet, it is not a long course and there is no real need to do it. Just keep it out of trouble, keep it in the shorts and try to make birdies out of it.
Hebert bounced back from a bogey start to the top of the board on a low-scoring day in Nairobi, with the Frenchman posting an eagle and six birdies to advance over the group of seven players sharing second place .
Connor Syme combined his last two holes to join Scot Calum Hill on six under, with Germany’s Raphael Jacquelin, Kalle Samooja and Bernd Ritthammer also all off the field.
Connor Syme looks for the impact he made on European Tour
English duo Matthew Southgate and Dale Whitnell both made 67s without a bogey and Justin Harding finally found a hole eagle to get to five under, with Julian Suri and Gaganjeet Bhullar also two back.
Aaron Rai, the top player in the field, sits tied-60th on one under and defending champion Guido Migliozzi mixes three birdies with as many bogs in par-71, with George Coetzee the next two strokes despite finishing it with rear birdies.
European Tour Productions (ETP) has confirmed that live global broadcast – used by Sky Sports – will not be repeated for a second round on Friday due to “ongoing supply problems” beyond their control. It is hoped that coverage will be available for the final two rounds.
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