Harding eyeing a Magical success
Justin Harding yesterday fired a 64 to take a two-shot lead into today’s final round of the Magical Kenya Open.
The South African made an eagle, six birdies and a bogey to get to 16-underpar and leads the way from American pair Kurt Kitayama and Johannes Veerman, and Australian Scott Hend.
Harding was one of the form players in the world two years ago, claiming five wins in nine months and finishing second at this event to enter the world’s top 50 and earn an invitation to the Masters.
He has achieved just six top-10s since, slipping to world No .195, but he put himself in pole position to claim a second European Tour victory in Nairobi.
“I’ll give it my best effort,” said Harding.
“The golf course lends itself to a bunch of birdies. If you execute your golf shots and roll in a couple of putts you can certainly post a score.
“It’s just a matter of really taking advantage of the parfives and a couple of the driveable par-fours and, at the end of the day, just being one shot better than the next guy.
“It’s just going to be a matter of executing plans and trying to get over the line.”
Harding turned in 32 with birdies on the first, third and sixth and led by two when he holed a wedge to eagle the parfour 10th and followed it with back-to-back gains. He gave a shot back on the 13th before birdieing the last.
Veerman broke the course record with a 62, while Kitayama carded a 66 and Hend signed for a 68 to sit a shot ahead of Scotland’s Calum Hill, who went round in 67.
Drumoig’s Connor Syme is three shots further back on 10-under after a levelpar round of 71, with Grant Forrest at six-under and Richie Ramsay on four-under-par.