Lasse Jensen admitted that he has some “unfinished business” at the Barclays Kenya Open as the Dane carded a five under par 67 to share second place after the opening day of a tournament in which he was beaten in a play-off two years ago.
While he is taking on a different course this week to the one upon which Seve Benson pipped him to the title after a dramatic sudden-death finale, Jensen’s love for Nairobi came to the fore again on the opening day of the Challenge Tour season at Karen Country Club.
The 29 year old finished with a flourish, courtesy of a birdie at the 17th and an eagle at the 18th, to move into a share of second place, alongside South African Haydn Porteous and a shot behind leader Alvaro Velasco.
“I started out really well,” said Jensen. “After two holes I was under par and chasing more birdies but nothing happened for a while and I was moving back a little. I was just trying to find my game and find some more birdies. Then I hit a fantastic second shot from the woods at the 15th and that was the game-changer for me.
“My drive hit a tree and it was almost on the 17th hole nearby. I hit a three wood low under the trees and it ran up onto the green and I made a birdie. Then I was saying to myself, ‘come on, let’s finish strong’.
“Then I finished three, three, three and I was suddenly five under so I felt like I got my reward in the end. I'm very pleased with it, it’s a nice start.”
Jensen believes he has a special affinity with the East African nation, having performed strongly in this competition in years past, including that play-off defeat at Muthaiga Golf Club in 2012, and he is hoping those emotions will take him to a maiden Challenge Tour victory this week.
“Somehow I've always played well here,” he said. “My first year on Challenge Tour I had my first top ten here. Some courses and some countries, you just feel like you play well there and you’re always looking forward to coming back. Maybe this is one of them for me.
“There is a little bit of unfinished business because I was playing really well in that final round in Muthaiga two years ago. I was very comfortable in the lead and Seve just caught me in the last three holes and I missed out in the play-off.
“Maybe I can finish one better but I also know there are three rounds to go so I need to tell myself, ‘easy not, there is a lot of golf to be played’, but it’s nice to think those thoughts because it means you are in a good position.
“Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow so I will try and do the same and shoot a low one tomorrow, maybe try and attack the course and not be too defensive.”
