It was a magical return to Kenya for the Scottish duo of Calum Hill and Connor Syme who went on safari to grab nine birdies apiece and share second place on day one of the Magical Kenya Open in Nairobi.
Hill, 26 and 25-year-old Syme are among seven lying second after six-under par 65s and just a shot shy of Frenchman Benjamin Herbert who had an eagle and six birdies in his 64 on the Karen Country Club course.
Crook of Devon’s Hill, and with Masters-winning caddy Phil ‘Wobbly’ Morbey now full-time on the bag, birdied his opening three and then bounced back from a fifth hole double to birdie five of his closing 11 holes.
And after each contested the 2019 Kenya Open but failed to break 70, the young Scot’s could not have been happier.
Hill said: “If I hit the ball in a good spot, I made birdie, otherwise I was just messing around, so it was a very colourful day.
“My game has been trending in a good direction since the two Scottish events last year. There’s been a lot of work put into it and it’s gone in a good direction.
“I’ve been working with my coach and he’s been making me swing it a little better. My work has been a bit smarter over the past year. Putting me in an upward trajectory consistently, rather than having too many waves of ups and downs.”
Syme, and in the group behind Hill raced to six-under par after 12 holes to be halted by back-to-back bogeys on 13 and 14 before birdies at his closing two holes.
He said: “It’s been a while since I’ve had that in a round.
“I liked this course when we were here two years ago and if you get the ball in play you can make a few birdies.
“Although my strength is my driving you actually don’t hit many drivers around here. If you get it in play you can make a few birdies. I played lovely on the front nine, a few silly mistakes unfortunately with a couple of bogeys, but nice to bounce back with a couple towards the end which made up for it”.
Richie Ramsay was also well into the birdie hunt with five birdies in a four-under 67.
Ewen Ferguson posted a level par while David Drysdale heads into today’s (FRD) 46th birthday after one-over par 72 and tied with David Law, Grant Forrest and Liam Johnston.
