Merrick Bremer has taken a one shot lead against Anton Haig in the opening round of KCB Karen Masters professional golfers table that kicked off today on par 72 Karen Country Club.
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As Kenyan Stefan Andersen with four under leads Kenyan contingent on the course.
The South African international fired seven under 65 to top the table to lead other 165 pros heading into the second round on Friday.
Bremer fired birdie at the par five second, and added one at the fifth. The two bogeys however denied him an under score in the outward nine, though he managed to pick himself up by producing birdies at the start of the home nine.
It was birdie after a birdie with two back-to-back at the 12th and 13th, before adding two more at the 15th and 18th for his narrow one-shot lead Haig, who had held on with a six-under-par lead until the arrival of Bremner.
Haig, who played in the Karen Challenge of 2002 as 15-year-old, birdied five of the first nine holes for a low five under 31,with only one bogey at the seventh.
At the back nine, Haig made birdies at the 12th, 15th and at the 18th, to remain a shot clear of Ruan Conradie and Roberto Lupini, who both caddied five under par 67 to position themselves closer to the leader going into the second round of about Sh15 million where the winner will take Sh2.4 million.
Also joining the leader board on day one were J.J.Senekal, Daniel van Tonder, Kenya’s Stefan Andersen, Vincent Torgah of Ghana and former Kenya Open champion Jake Roos.
The field of 156 players including six amateurs will tee off at 7am.
The leader board; (All South Africa unless stated)
- Merrick Bremner 65
- Anton Haig 66
- Ruan Conradie 67
- Roberto Lupini 67
- J. Senekal 68
- Daniel van Tonder 68
- Stefan Andersen(Ken) 68
- Vincent Torgah(Gha) 68
- Louis de Jager 68
- Musiwalo Nethunzwi 68