Ángel Ayora (-6) and Rocco Repetto (-5) have already moved up in the Magical Kenya Open. After the first round of the tournament, the two Andalusians have put themselves in contention for victory. It’s just the beginning, but it’s better to be up there than having to make a comeback in a week where birdies are the order of the day. The leader is Swedish Niklas Lemke (-8), followed by Scotsman David Law (-7).
Ayora started his round in such a way that some began to calculate the possibility of him going under 60 strokes. Remember that the Karen Country Club is a par 70 and the player from Málaga started with a birdie on the 10th, two inches from the hole, a birdie on the 11th, two inches from the hole, and a two-metre eagle putt on the 12th, par 4. A superb shot from the tee by the young man. He didn’t make the eagle, but he got the hat-trick of birdies. In case there was any doubt, he made another birdie on the 14th. He was on a roll…
However, he hit a wall. Three consecutive bogeys fell on holes 15, 16, and 17. It’s not easy to take such a blow with the start he had made. Two of the bogeys came with three-putts, while the third was with a not-so-fine chip. The merit was his comeback after this disconnect. Far from losing his cool, Ayora recalculated his route brilliantly.
The next thing he did was make four birdies in five holes. Spectacular. A big reaction. Attitude and maturity despite his youth. Once again, with top-level golf. At that moment, in the first 13 holes of his round, he had made only two pars. From there, a moment of calm. He strung together four consecutive pars to finish with another birdie on the 9th, his last hole. A great performance.
Repetto also showed powerful golf. He started with an easy birdie on the 2nd, par 5, hitting a 6-iron to the centre of the green and two putts. Next was the putt of the day on the 4th, sinking a long putt from about eleven metres. Immediately after came the first and only bogey of the day, but the locomotive was already in motion and wasn’t going to stop. On the 7th, he hit a great shot to a metre and a half from the flag and made it.
Rocco didn’t slow down or look back. On the 11th, he hit a bomb from the tee with a 4-iron and went 250 metres. His second shot was with an 8-iron. Yes, 4-iron and 8-iron on a par 5. Repetto has plenty of distance. Two putts and birdie. On the next hole, a short par 4, he hit another of the shots of the day. A sensational mini drive to the centre of the green, two putts and another birdie. He saved a good par on the 17th and a great birdie on the 18th, again with an 8-iron to the green and a three-metre eagle putt that just missed.
In both cases, Ángel and Rocco, it could be said that they were very low rounds that came quite easily. For now, they are already positioned at the top.
Also starting under par are Quim Vidal (-2), Pablo Larrazábal (-2), Alfredo García Heredia (-2), and Jorge Campillo (-1). It’s not a bad start, but they will have to push on Friday to make the cut. Much more so for Alex del Rey (+2), who didn’t have his best day of golf in Nairobi.
