Jacques Kruyswijk refused to putt, Adri Arnaus turned to his flat stick in an unusual spot and Yannik Paul enjoyed a family day out at the 2026 Magical Kenya Open presented by absa.
Here is everything you need to know from the first day's play at Karen Country Club.
Lemke goes low
Niklas Lemke set the early pace with a blemish-free 62, with six birdies and then a closing eagle. "I think I’ve shot eight under before but not a 62, so I’m pleased with that," said Lemke, whose round was later matched by Casey Jarvis as the pair shared the first-round lead. Jarvis, who fired ten birdies, 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."
Leave the putter in the bag
Jacques Kruyswijk began his title defence in spectacular style, holing from a bunker to eagle the second hole.
And he was not finished there, remarkably leaving his putter in the bag for a second successive hole - nice work Jacques!
Arnaus improvises
Adri Arnaus found himself on a dirt track beside the second green, with a difficult lie. Unfazed, the Spaniard simply rolled in a routine two-putt...
Mum's the word for Yannik
Yannik Paul has his mother as his caddie this week. The pair conducted a joint interview after a level-par opening round of 70... and Birgit was quick to take the credit for her son's birdie at the seventh!
Aphibarnrat enjoys fine finish
Kiradech Aphibarnrat is one shot off the lead and his 63 featured three successive birdies at the sixth, seventh and eighth - but the ninth, his final hole, may have been even more impressive. After a superb rescue act for a par, Aphibarnrat said: "I would say it’s one of the top ten up-and-downs for me. I missed the drive a little bit to the right – hit the trees. My chip out caught a little jump from the rough and I ended up with a terrible lie in a bad spot. I had to chip, hit the slope and spin to the right. It gave me 15 feet for par, a downhill putt. It’s the way to finish the day."
