Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson produced plenty of magic taking full advantage of playing at close to 6,000-feet above sea level to set up a 66 on the opening day of the Magical Kenya Open in Nairobi.
Ferguson, 25, grabbed an eagle and six birdies en route to a share of fourth at five-under on the Muthaiga course just to the north of the Kenyan capital.
The club hosted the first Kenya Open in 1967 when amateur Guy Wolstoneholme denied five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson by four shots whereas this year is the first under the DP World Tour banner.
England’s Daniel Gavins seized the best of the day in signing for a seven-under-par 64 to lead by a shot and with Ferguson sharing fourth signing for his lowest score since a 65 on the opening day of last October’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Ewen Ferguson taking a liking to playing at near 6,000 above sea level
Ferguson, who had been struck down in the Middle East last month with Covid missed two events, was glowing in taking full advantage of the thinner air and with the Glaswegian boasting drives close to 400-yards, including setting-up a brilliant mid-round effort from the seventh with three birdies and a 10th hole eagle ‘3’.
He said: “I don’t know how far those drives were. At seven and eight I hit it like 370-380, which gave me a bit of confidence.
“I was going into the par 5s with irons, which really helps. I hit a 9-iron to around 8-10 feet to set up my eagle at 10, and also went into the last with a 9-iron, so that was nice to finish with a birdie. I think I like playing at altitude (smiling)”.
Ferguson was brought back to earth with bogeys on 14 and 16th but capped off his day’s work with a closing birdie.
He said: “After the time off, I feel mentally ready to play. I feel a bit more comfortable now in my own skin. I honestly wasn’t feeling good about this week in my practice rounds, but I was pleased with today and will try and keep the same attitude.”
Aberdonian David Law posted a three-under 68 while Scott Jamieson, who last played this week’s host course 12-years ago as a Challenge Tour event, felt short-changed in signing for a 69.
Jamieson said: “Overall, it was a mixed bag with some good stuff and some pretty bad stuff.
“It’s tricky out there, and it’s not the easiest course in the world. When you are out of position it’s tricky. The course hardened up a lot this afternoon and it was just tough to really know where the breeze was coming from a lot of the time, as well.
“It was a solid start and to birdie, the last was nice but being honest, the game doesn’t feel as it did as it was in the Middle East.
“It felt okay and heading back home but on coming back out there is just something not right. I just don’t feel as comfortable as to where my game was earlier this year, so hopefully, I can sort it out over the weekend”.
And Jamieson spoke of returing to the course for a first time since 2010 when he was a then 27-year-old when he fniished in a share of 57th in the Kenya Open.
“I can remember four or five holes while the trees have grown a lot as they would do in 12-years”, he said. “It is a lot tighter than I remember it. You do have to stay really patient around here because as you soon as you try to force it … you are still going to have wedges into a lot of holes so you just have to capitalise on it.”
Other Scots –
69 – Connor Syme
70 – David Drysdale, Craig Howie
73 – Richie Ramsay
