Magical Kenya Open: Sweden’s Niklas Lemke Seizes Early Lead as Local Hopes Fade

Sweden's Niklas Lemke surged to the leaderboard on the opening round of the Magical Kenya Open on Thursday as locals struggled to make an impact.

Sweden's Niklas Lemke delivered a masterful performance to claim the top spot on the leaderboard after the first round of the Magical Kenya Open at Karen Country Club on Thursday.

Lemke carded a flawless 8-under-par 62 in the DP World Tour event, demonstrating remarkable discipline throughout the day. He started strong with birdies on the second and fourth holes before elevating his game on the back nine.

The 41-year-old added four more birdies on holes 10, 12, 14, and 16, capping off an exceptional round with a stunning eagle on the par-5 18th.

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The impressive finish left Lemke thrilled with what he described as a solid day's work.

"I think I've shot 8-under before but not a 62, so I’m pleased with that," Lemke commented. "It was a nice way to finish with an eagle. I played fairly solid the whole day. I started off a little so-so but found my ball striking on the back nine, so it was a good day."

Lemke Thrilled With Great Start

The Swede, ranked 426th in the world, expressed his fondness for the Karen course, calling it a classic and enjoyable challenge.

"I like these kinds of golf courses; they’re a little short, old-school, and tricky," he said. "You kind of have to think your way around it a little bit, so I enjoy being here."

With the Kenya Meteorological Department forecasting heavy rain over the weekend, Lemke is cautiously optimistic about the potential impact on course conditions.

"It is going to affect a lot," he noted. "I'm used to playing this golf course very firm. A little bit more club off the tee, it gets a little bit wider because it gets narrow when it's firm. I am not sure if it’s going to play easier or tougher, but probably a little bit tougher, I would say."

Law Slips as Casey Climbs

Earlier in the day, Scotsman David Law had briefly held the lead with a 7-under-par 63. Law recorded four birdies on both the front and back nine, but a bogey on the par-4 15th hole proved costly.

By the end of play, Law found himself in third place, overtaken by South Africa's Casey Jarvis, who shot an 8-under 62 to secure the second spot.

Despite being displaced, Law was content with his opening round.

"It was really good... a pretty steady start," he said. "I got on a nice little run around the turn, which was great. There are chances around that area of the golf course. I hit some good iron shots, holed a couple of decent putts, and I’m happy with the score."

Kenya’s Hopes Fade on Day 1

The 34-year-old, who has previous experience at Karen from the European Challenge Tour, also noted the course's condition.

"This week, it’s slightly softer than what it’s been in the past, but I don’t think that really changes my core strategy," Law explained. "Generally, this is a golf course you can’t really try and overpower, so we were pretty conservative but smart off the tee."

Meanwhile, Kenya's top performer on the day was Njoroge Kibugu, who finished with a respectable score of four-under-par 66.