Hend turns back hands of time to claim share of lead

AUSTRALIAN veteran Scott Hend returned to form to claim a share of the halfway lead at the Magical Kenya Open.

The 47-year-old shot a joint best-of-the-week 64 to join Finland’s Kalle Samooja on 11 under at Karen Country Club in Nairobi.

A three-time European Tour winner, Hend came into the week having missed seven cuts in his last eight events but looked like snatching the outright lead when he made his eighth birdie of the day on the 17th, only to then bogey the last.

In contrast Samooja has had three top-10 finishes in his last 10 European Tour starts and fired a five-under 66, which included an eagle at the drivable par-four seventh.

“I got off to a flying start, opening with three birdies, and then I was struggling a little bit to get quality shots,” said Samooja.

“Then a huge bonus at seven from the front of the green, I don’t know how long it was – 50 metres, maybe more – for an eagle and then a good birdie at the last so I’m really happy with how I finished the round today.”

Scottish pair Connor Syme and Richie Ramsay share third on 10 under with South African Dean Burmester, with the latter’s compatriot Justin Harding, Scotland’s Calum Hill, American Kurt Kitayama and France’s Raphael Jacquelin on nine under.

Meanwhile, The European Tour has postponed next month’s Portugal Masters due to travel issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The event was due to run from April 29 in Vilamoura but will now be replaced on the schedule by the Tenerife Open, which is being pushed back two weeks.