Arnhaus and Migliozzi share Kenya Open lead with one round to go

Round Three report

Adri Arnaus and Guido Migliozzi fired the lowest rounds of their European Tour careers to share the lead heading into the final round of the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa.

Both Spain’s Arnaus and Italy’s Migliozzi took advantage of favourable conditions at Karen Country Club, with the pair – both European Tour rookies – carding rounds of 65 and 64 respectively to share the lead going into the final day in Nairobi.

One shot off the pace is overnight leader Louis de Jager. The South African, a winner on the Sunshine Tour earlier this year, battled his way to a one under par score of 70 and thanks to a closing birdie he is still well-placed to challenge for a maiden European Tour title tomorrow.

Also in the hunt are Kalle Samooja and Gaganjeet Bhullar, who are two behind the leaders. Finland’s Samooja carded his lowest score on the European Tour – a seven under par 64 – to rise up the leaderboard, while India’s Bhullar also rose into contention with his own five under par round of 66.

Still in with a chance of winning back-to-back European Tour titles is South Africa’s Justin Harding. The Qatar Masters champion signed for a two under par round of 69 to leave him four back with 18 holes to play in Kenya.

Player quotes:

Adri Arnaus:

“I would have loved to have been here after my front nine yesterday – that’s what I was playing for. I am happy that I was able to turn it around and it has been a lot of fun so far, and hopefully it will continue to be tomorrow.

“Yesterday over the front nine I didn’t quite feel as good as I was having thoughts about my swing, but after that it all seemed to click and I have been able to implement new swing thoughts over and over since.

“I have been in this position before, and I think that everything in the past is going to help me – all I have to do is try and play good golf again tomorrow.”

Guido Migliozzi:

“I played very solid out there today. My putting was really good, I have been working at that a lot on the greens over the past few days, and I saw a lot of good results from that today.

“It is a very tough course and you have to keep the ball on the fairway. The greens are getting tougher and tougher so you have to keep the ball in play to give yourself a chance here.

“I am confident with my game, and I am hoping that my best game – like I played today – will be enough tomorrow.”

Scores after Round Three:
par 213 (3x71) Players from Kenya unless otherwise stated

199 A Arnaus (Spn) 66 68 65, G Migliozzi (Ita) 67 68 64 
200 L De Jager (SAf) 64 66 70
201 K Samooja (Finland) 70 67 64, G Bhullar (India) 65 70 66 
203 L Johnston (Sco) 67 69 67, J Singh Brar (Eng) 64 70 69, J Harding (SAf) 70 65 68
205 C Sharvin (N Ireland) 69 71 65, G Coetzee (SAf) 72 66 67 
206 C Bezuidenhout (SAf) 67 73 66, R Langasque (Fra) 67 70 69
207 A Karlsson (Swe) 69 70 68, J Geary (NZ) 67 73 67, A Cockerill (Canada) 69 68 70
208 C Blomstrand (Swe) 70 72 66, C S (India) 70 69 69,
209 M Schneider (Ger) 70 69 70, J Veerman (USA) 76 65 68, O Wilson (Eng) 72 70 67, M Hoey (NIre) 66 74 69,
210 T Bjørn (Den) 70 70 70, S Ngige 68 72 70, L Jensen (Den) 71 67 72, G Fernandez-Castaño (Spn) 71 66 73, T Murray (Eng) 72 68 70, H Porteous (RSA) 69 73 68, K Reitan (Norway) 73 68 69, D Cooke (USA) 70 71 69, K Joshi (India) 72 69 69,
211 C Syme (Sco) 71 70 70, B Stow (Eng) 75 67 69, P Figueiredo (Por) 72 68 71, K Koivu (Fin) 70 69 72, H Joannes (Belgium) 70 73 68, S Crocker (USA) 72 71 68, B Ritthammer (Ger) 71 73 67, J Senior (Eng) 69 72 70,
212 A Saddier (Fra) 72 72 68, F Bergamaschi (Ita) 67 75 70, S Manley (Wales) 71 65 76, R Paratore (Ita) 74 70 68, S Soderberg (Swe) 70 72 70, I Cantero Gutierrez (Spn) 71 68 73, M Schmitt (Ger) 69 70 73, S Tiley (Eng) 73 70 69, P Angles (Spn) 73 70 69, N Lemke (Swe) 72 69 71, R Gouveia (Por) 74 66 72, R McGowan (Eng) 74 68 70, M Fenasse (Fra) 75 69 68,
213 B Easton (SAf) 72 70 71, J Catlin (USA) 71 71 71, E Ferguson (Sco) 73 69 71, M Nixon (Eng) 69 71 73, J Lima (Portugal) 75 68 70,
214 N McCarthy (Eng) 73 71 70, C Hill (Sco) 71 71 72, S Forsström (Swe) 74 70 70, M Lafeber (Netherlands) 72 70 72, C Sordet (Fra) 70 73 71, J Madoya (Ken) 71 71 72, J Girrbach (Switz) 72 71 71, R MacIntyre (Sco) 71 73 70,
215 M Simonsen (Denmark) 73 71 71, D Boote (Wales) 69 75 71, N Cullen (Australia) 72 70 73, H Sturehed (Swe) 73 69 73, H Park (SKor) 69 70 76,
216 O Lengden (Swe) 74 70 72, H Leon (Chi) 67 72 77, N Geyger (Chile) 76 67 73, J Winther (Denmark) 80 64 72, B Evans (Eng) 72 72 72,
217 B Virto (Spn) 75 68 74
218 O Farr (Wales) 70 74 74, J Dean (Eng) 75 68 75 
220 M Orrin (Eng) 74 70 76
224 D Van Driel (Netherlands) 71 73 80

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199 Adri Arnhaus (Spain) 66 68 65
199 Guida Migliozzo (Italy) 67 68 64

200 Louis de Jager (South Africa) 64 66 70

SCOTS' SCORES
203 Liam Johnston 67 69 67 (T6)
211 Connor Syme 71 70 70 (T31)
213 Ewen Ferguson 73 69 71 (T52)
214 Calum Hill 71 71 72 (T57)
214 Robert MacIntyre 71 73 70 (T57)

De Jager is King Louis at halfway stage of Kenya Open Louis de Jager (pictured) opened up a four-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa after carding a second round of five-under-par 66 in Nairobi today. The South African shared the overnight lead with England’s Jack Singh Brar going into Day Two at Karen Country Club, but after bagging seven birdies today he put daylight between himself and the rest of the field. De Jager, who triumphed on the Sunshine Tour earlier this year, will have history on his side going into the weekend because, over the last five seasons, a player has led by four or more shots after 36 holes on 10 occasions on the European Tour – with seven going on to win. Four shots off the pace in a share of second place are Singh Brar and Spaniard Adri Arnaus. Both European Challenge Tour graduates, the pair are well poised to make a charge for a maiden European Tour title after rounds of 70 and 68 respectively today. In contention again is South African Justin Harding, who is five behind his countryman de Jager. The World Number 52, who triumphed in Qatar last week, is looking to become the first player to win back-to-back European Tour events since Justin Rose in 2017. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre made the cut with nothing to spare on 144. Craig Ross (149) and Grantown on Spey's Duncan Stewart (152) missed the cut. Player quotes: Louis de Jager: "I had to find my feet a bit at the start of the season but I'm feeling comfortable out here now. "I told the guys when we played a practice round on Tuesday, after the desert, you could feel you were in Africa, back in our continent. You get used to the feel of the Kikuyu grass, and the ball travels the same as back home in Pretoria, distance wise, so it really feels like we're back home. "My game plan over the weekend is not to be too aggressive. The most important thing is hitting the fairways and hitting the greens because the greens are quite small.  If you hit the greens you've always got a good birdie chance here." Jack Singh Brar: “It has been a fun two days. Yesterday I played really solid and today I kept it in there again today. “It was a bit of an up and down round today – a bit of a mixed bag. I had a couple of good opportunities early doors and then missed a good birdie chance on nine which stunted my movement a little bit – then I was a bit scruffy on the back nine. “I’m still in a good position and I’m looking forward to the weekend.” Justin Harding: “I was a little bit more aggressive today as you have to get it in close here as it can be awkward in places. “You have to pick and choose your moments here and I did that well out there. I have been trying to make less mistakes recently and I went over the green just once today – that wasn’t the case yesterday – so I am really happy with my performance.” Scores after Round Two par 142 (2x71) Players from Kenya unless otherwise stated 130 L De Jager (SAf) 64 66 134 A Arnaus (Spn) 66 68, J Singh Brar (Eng) 64 70 135 G Bhullar (India) 65 70, G Migliozzi (Ita) 67 68, J Harding (SAf) 70 65 136 L Johnston (Sco) 67 69, S Manley (Wales) 71 65 137 A Cockerill (Canada) 69 68, R Langasque (Fra) 67 70, G Fernandez-Castaño (Spn) 71 66, K Samooja (Finland) 70 67 138 G Coetzee (SAf) 72 66, L Jensen (Denmark) 71 67 139 C S (India) 70 69, H Leon (Chile) 67 72, K Koivu (Finland) 70 69, M Schneider (Ger) 70 69, I Cantero Gutierrez (Spn) 71 68, A Karlsson (Swe) 69 70, M Schmitt (Ger) 69 70, H Park (SKor) 69 70 140 C Sharvin (NIre) 69 71, P Figueiredo (Portugal) 72 68, T Bjørn (Denmark) 70 70, S Ngige  68 72, R Gouveia (Portugal) 74 66, J Geary (NZ) 67 73, C Bezuidenhout (SAf) 67 73, T Murray (Eng) 72 68, M Nixon (Eng) 69 71, M Hoey (NIre) 66 74 141 K Joshi (India) 72 69, C Syme (Sco) 71 70, N Lemke (Swe) 72 69, K Reitan (Norway) 73 68, J Veerman (USA) 76 65, J Senior (Eng) 69 72, D Cooke (USA) 70 71 142 J Catlin (USA) 71 71, C Hill (Sco) 71 71, F Bergamaschi (Ita) 67 75, C Blomstrand (Swe) 70 72, S Soderberg (Swe) 70 72, O Wilson (Eng) 72 70, B Stow (Eng) 75 67, N Cullen (Australia) 72 70, H Porteous (SAf) 69 73, R McGowan (Eng) 74 68, J Madoya 71 71, B Easton (SAf) 72 70, H Sturehed (Swe) 73 69, M Lafeber (Netherlands) 72 70, E Ferguson (Sco) 73 69, 143 J Girrbach (Swit) 72 71, P Angles (Spn) 73 70, H Joannes (Belgium) 70 73, J Dean (Eng) 75 68, S Tiley (Eng) 73 70, S Crocker (USA) 72 71, C Sordet (Fra) 70 73, B Virto (Spn) 75 68, J Lima (Portugal) 75 68, N Geyger (Chi) 76 67, 144 D Boote (Wales) 69 75, R MacIntyre (Sco) 71 73, B Evans (Eng) 72 72, D Van Driel (Netherlands) 71 73, B Ritthammer (Ger) 71 73, R Paratore (Ita) 74 70, N McCarthy (Eng) 73 71, J Winther (Den) 80 64, A Saddier (Fra) 72 72, M Fenasse (Fra) 75 69, O Lengden (Swe) 74 70, M Simonsen (Den) 73 71, M Orrin (Eng) 74 70, O Farr (Wales) 70 74, S Forsström (Swe) 74 70 MISSED THE CUT 145 S Brown (Eng) 73 72, D Indiza Anyonyi 69 76, E Van Rooyen (SAf) 74 71, D Huizing (Netherlands) 72 73, M Manassero (Ita) 73 72, R De Sousa (Swi) 77 68, P Langfors (Swe) 73 72, S Sharma (India) 74 71, Y Liu (China) 70 75, J Kruyswijk (SAf) 71 74, G Moynihan (Ire) 72 73, G Havret (Fra) 75 70, L Gagli (Ita) 73 72, G Snow 73 72, D Borda (Spn) 73 72 146 G Bourdy (Fra) 76 70, S Gros (Fra) 73 73, M Siem (Ger) 71 75, C Berardo (Fra) 74 72, A Knappe (Ger) 72 74, C Lloyd (Eng) 71 75, D Wakhu 74 72, N Simwa 74 72, S Vincent (Zimbabwe) 73 73, S Chege (am) 75 71 147 D Gavins (Eng) 73 74, C Braeunig (Ger) 75 72, P Mejow (Ger) 71 76, J Thomson (Eng) 73 74, S Han (USA) 75 72, L Canter (Eng) 73 74, A Rozner (Fra) 71 76, T Omuli  72 75, C Hanson (Eng) 75 72, D Opati 76 71 148 J Choi (SKor) 72 76, R Evans (Eng) 75 73, P Kasozi (Uganda) 77 71 149 M Iten (Swi) 75 74, C Ross (Sco) 74 75, M Jordan (Eng) 76 73, D Nduva (am)  76 73, 150 H Choi (SKor) 73 77, J Abbott (Eng) 72 78, C Wangai 79 71, E Cuartero Blanco (Spn) 72 78 151 O Obura 78 73, E De La Riva (Spn) 76 75, R Dawson (Ire) 83 68, S Fernandez (Spn) 78 73, U Coussaud (Fra) 75 76, D Lawson (Australia) 72 79 152 D Stewart (Sco) 74 78, D Odhiambo 74 78 154 R Charania 78 76 155 E Mudanyi (am) 73 82 157 J Okello 80 77, M Wiegele (Australia) 77 80 158 A Nandwa 79 79 160 K Mutahi (am) 76 84 161 S Gregory (Eng) 81 80 163 B Mogire (am) 77 86 164 M Kisia (am) 83 81 ** E Kofstad (Norway) 71 retired

Brar and de Jager share Kenya Open lead at Nairobi

Jack Singh Brar soared up the leaderboard with a late birdie blitz to take a share of the first-round lead alongside Louis de Jager at the Kenya Open

The Englishman, who is a European Tour rookie after graduating from the Challenge Tour last season, produced a stunning eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie finish to sign for a bogey-free seven-under-par round of 64 in Nairobi.

Despite windy conditions at Karen Country Club, South Africa’s de Jager also shon in the Kenyan sun, bagging seven birdies and an eagle to join Singh Brar at the top of the leaderboard.

One shot off the lead is India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar. The European Tour winner is well-placed to contend again after 18 holes, thanks to a blemish-free 65 on his first start in the Kenyan capital.

Two off the top are Spanish rookie Adri Arnaus and five-time European Tour champion Michael Hoey, while in-form Christian Bezuidenhout – who finished as a runner-up in Qatar last week – leads a pack of seven players who sit three shots off the pace.

Player quotes:

Jack Singh Brar:

“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, and I like it here. The course is quite fiery, and you can hit a lot of low run shots, which is my stock shot, and that worked out perfectly as it can go miles with the altitude.

“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 – I won at a course on the Challenge Tour in France which is similar to here.

“I have to just keep pushing on now as you can’t defend on this Tour.”

Louis de Jager:

“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 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 also played here last year on the Sunshine Tour, so I feel that I know the course quite well.

“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.”  

Gaganjeet Bhullar:

“The golf course is really interesting – very similar to what we have back in India. Anything from a two iron to a driver works well off the tee.

“I gave myself a lot of good opportunities and I kept the ball in play the whole day and putted well.

“To make six birdies and remain bogey-free in testing conditions felt great, even though I felt I left a couple out there.”

Michael Hoey:

“I was five under after the first round in Kenya last year too – I’m not sure what it is about is about Nairobi!

“I am staying with a great Irish family this week who have been here for 27 years and they have been really good hosts, telling me a lot about Kenya. I stayed with them ten years ago so to catch up with them has been great – great food and great hospitality.

“I have played a lot in Africa so I am really used to the altitude here, I know how far the ball is going and my caddy was really good today.

“I judged the wind really well as it was quite tricky today. It is very similar to Joburg and I think having that experience will work to my advantage this week.”

Leading Scores after Round One:
par 71
Players from Kenya unless otherwise stated
64 L De Jager (SAf) , J Singh Brar (Eng) 
65 G Bhullar (India)  
66 A Arnaus (Spn) , M Hoey (NIreland)
67 H Leon (Chile) , C Bezuidenhout (SAf) , G Migliozzi (Ita) , R Langasque (Fra) , J Geary (NZ) , F Bergamaschi (Ita) , L Johnston (Sco) 
68 S Ngige 
69 C Sharvin (NIreland) , M Nixon (Eng) , H Park (SKor) , D Boote (Wales) , A Cockerill (Canada) , J Senior (Eng) , M Schmitt (Ger) , A Karlsson (Swe) , H Porteous (SAf) , D Indiza Anyonyi 
70 S Soderberg (Swe) , H Joannes (Belgium) , T Bjørn (Denmark) , J Harding (SAf) , C S (India) , K Samooja (Finland) , K Koivu (Finland) , O Farr (Wales) , C Blomstrand (Swe) , D Cooke (USA) , C Sordet (Fra) , Y Liu (China) , M Schneider (Ger) 
71 G Fernandez-Castaño (Spn) , J Kruyswijk (SAf) , A Rozner (Fra) , B Ritthammer (Ger) , C Syme (Sco) , I Cantero Gutierrez (Spn) , E Kofstad (Norway) , M Siem (Ger) , R MacIntyre (Sco) , P Mejow (Ger) , C Hill (Sco) , L Jensen (Denmark) , C Lloyd (Eng) , S Manley (Wales) , J Madoya , D Van Driel (Netherlands) , J Catlin (USA) 
72 S Crocker (USA) , J Abbott (Eng) , N Cullen (Australia) , N Lemke (Swe) , A Knappe (Ger) , D Lawson (Australia) , A Saddier (Fra) , J Choi (SKor) , T Omuli , B Evans (Eng) , E Cuartero Blanco (Spn) , G Moynihan (Ireland) , O Wilson (Eng) , D Huizing (Netherlands) , M Lafeber (Netherlands) , B Easton (SAf) , G Coetzee (SAf) , T Murray (Eng) , J Girrbach (Swi) , P Figueiredo (Portugal) , K Joshi (India)
73 K Reitan (Norway) , L Gagli (Ita) , S Vincent (Zimbabwe) , S Tiley (Eng) , H Sturehed (Swe) , N McCarthy (Eng) , S Brown (Eng) , P Langfors (Swe) , E Ferguson (Sco) , M Manassero (Ita) , J Thomson (Eng) , P Angles (Spn) , G Snow , H Choi (SKor) , D Gavins (Eng) , S Gros (Fra) , D Borda (Spn) , L Canter (Eng) , M Simonsen (Denmark) , E Mudanyi (am) 
74 R Gouveia (Portugal) , D Odhiambo , S Forsström (Swe) , M Orrin (Eng) , D Stewart (Sco) , R McGowan (Eng) , C Ross (Sco) , C Berardo (Fra) , D Wakhu, N Simwa (Ken), O Lengden (Swe) , E Van Rooyen (SAf) , R Paratore (Ita) , S Sharma (India).
 
                                                                   

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