With the latest Avengers movie set to hit our screens in the coming month, one of the comic book series’ namesakes – a certain Oscar Stark – was pleased with his own box office display on day one at the Barclays Kenya Open.
The 26 year old Swede, born in Gothenburg, is embarking on his second full season of European Challenge Tour action in 2015 after a season that, perhaps, did not live up to the expectations of the Oklahoma Christian University graduate last year.
Stark finished 100th on the season-long second tier Rankings last season, and he will hope that history does not repeat itself, especially after he replicated his heroics of 12 months ago at Karen Country Club en route to an opening round of 67 on Thursday.
Stark is excited to be back in Kenya this week though, where he has already been revelling in some familiar home comforts, and will tee it up in the second round on Friday looking to push on and kick start his season.
“I have good memories here, as I am staying with the same host family as last year, so I have good memories from that as well as from the first round of 12 months ago,” said Stark, who finished the first day in a tie for fifth some three strokes adrift of the leading José-Felipe Lima.
“I had a good warm up before the round, and then I managed to hole some good putts as well as a chip shot. So there was plenty of good stuff, which was pretty nice.
“I have been working on some things that I wanted to improve for this year and I feel much better as those are coming together nicely. I am just excited for the season to come, and it is nice to see my game start to work pretty good already, so I think it is going to be a good week.
“I like the atmosphere here in Kenya, and the layout is good too. It is tight in places and quite tricky, which I like, and the greens are tricky too. That all suits me, and overall I just really like it.
Stark holes out for a first round score of 67 at Karen Country Club
“My main goal would be to get my European Tour card for next season. Whether that is through the Challenge Tour or Q-School, who knows. I’m just going to take it shot by shot and work hard and we will see what can happen, but I am feeling good about what is to come and I think it is going to be a fun and exciting year.”
Stark will hope to follow in the footsteps of a number of his compatriots who have transferred success on the Challenge Tour into form around the globe, with the likes of Peter Hanson, Robert Karlsson and World Number Two Henrik Stenson having all come through the developmental circuit.
