Jarvis storms into Kenya lead

Casey Jarvis fired ten birdies to share the first-round lead with Niklas Lemke at the 2026 Magical Kenya Open presented by absa.

The South African was among the later starters at Karen Country Club in Nairobi and fired a superb eight-under-par 62 to match Lemke’s earlier effort.

Scotland’s David Law and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat were one stroke off the lead at seven under.

Jarvis bogeyed his opening hole but bounced back in some style with six birdies in his next seven as he went out in 30.

Another at the tenth was cancelled out by a bogey at the 13th but again the response was immediate, with birdies at his next two holes and another at the 18th.

He said: “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 – which began in understated fashion with just two birdies on the front nine.

The Swede made gains at alternate holes on the back nine, birdieing the tenth, 12th, 14th and 16th before a beautiful approach to the last set up a tap-in eagle.

“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.”

Law made eight birdies, including five in a row from the eighth, before a dropped shot at the 15th which proved to be all that kept him behind the leading duo.

Aphibarnrat started with a bogey at the tenth but it would be the only blemish on his card. He birdied the 12th, 17th and 18th to turn in 33, picked up further shots on the second and fourth and finished with three straight birdies followed by a sensational up-and-down for par at the ninth.

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 hole-outs at the second and third, the former for an eagle out of a bunker and the latter for a birdie.

Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Jarvis storms into Kenya lead

Article written by compleatnew

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