2025 Magical Kenya Open: Riz holds Kenya's hope as Herbert and Parry take early lead

John Parry of England and Benjamin Hebert of France topped the 2025 Magical Kenya Open (MKO) golf championship leaderboard on Day One yesterday at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi on eight under par 63 apiece.

The duo was followed in second place by Jayden Schaper of South Africa who fired seven under par 64 in the hot unforgiving weather.

Defending champion Darius Van Driel of Netherlands did not fare well as he had planned for the day, ending the opening round on a two under, but he was hopeful to turn the tables on the second day where he will be attacking the greens in his favourite morning time.

Locally, Riz Charania was the best-placed Kenyan on two under par 69 as late entrant to the championship, Daniel Nduva proved doubting Thomases wrong by firing an impressive one under par 70, as ‘Kenya One’ Michael Karanga followed on one over par.

Driel, who is hoping for a back-to-back win in his title defence, said he did not feel disappointed with the way his score went, even though that’s not what he had hoped for in the cutthroat opening round.

“There is still time for redemption on Friday (today), there are still a couple of days to go, so there is time for me,” the Dutchman told Standard Sports. “I like the African weather, it’s quite better here than home, back in Netherlands people are freezing, so I’m happy to be enjoying this conducive Kenyan climate.”

Basking on his lead on Day One, Parry is hopeful that the momentum he has gathered will steer him all through to the penultimate day on Sunday, as his wish is to register a third DP Tour victory in his exciting career.

“Today, I was aggressive off the tee, and that’s what paid off,” Parry said.

“I have been struggling with my putts at the start of the year but held on a few today, so I can see that confidence coming back.”

He continued: “I hope to replicate the multiple victories I had last season by repeating the same routines, same goals and doing everything that I literally did last year. What I know is that if I keep doing them then the required results will come.”

In his quest to fly the Kenyan flag high, Charania birdied the par five 4th, par five 10th, par four 15th and the par five 18th as he attacked the pristine championship Muthaiga course.

He blamed the bogey on the 7th on a three-putt and the 14th on lack of focus in the punishing course.

Avoiding the roughs and silly mistakes were Charania’s secret on the fairways but he is not sure how his tee-off in the hot afternoon Nairobi overhead sun will turn out today.

“Today, the greens were so soft and slower but on Friday I know the conditions will be a little bit different at noon during my tee-off, so I’m preparing my mind for that drastic change to adapt to that weather,” highlighted Charania.

Dismas Indiza, who dipped to a four over par 75, blamed his nerves for failing him in the opening round, same as to William Odek who sunk to 11 over par 82 where he was tied with veteran Alfred Nandwa on his MKO debut.

“I don’t have a target for Friday, but I’ll strive to push myself, I’m also learning as I play some of the best golfers around the world in my first time in the tournament,” stated Odek.