Hurly Long and Thriston Lawrence were both feeling positive as they continued their excellent starts to the 2022 DP World Tour season by finishing in a tie for second at the 2022 Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa.
South African Lawrence became the first winner of the DP World Tour era as he lifted the trophy at the Joburg Open in November - earning himself full playing privileges on Tour for the first time in the process.
Long is also playing on Tour with a full card for the first time in 2022, having graduated from the European Challenge Tour, and the German is certainly making an impression having finished 18th and third in the two events in Ras Al Khaimah before arriving in Kenya.
While the 27-year-old gatecrashed the top five at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic, finishing six shots off the lead after a closing 64, he was in the mix on the back nine on Sunday at Muthaiga Golf Club and is confident the experience will hold him in good stead.
"It's been a couple of good weeks with some nice Sunday finishes, that's always fun so I'm enjoying it," he said.
"I was just trying to play the way I have been playing. It's important to me in those situations to know that I'm going to make gutsy swings and it doesn't matter what's coming, I'm still going to hit good shots.
"I was just enjoying it and it was a lot of fun, Thriston was playing well too so it was a good battle."
Playing partner Lawrence matched Long's closing 66 in Nairobi as the duo finished four shots behind Wu Ashun, and he was hopeful to take some momentum into the next two weeks on home soil at the MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood and the Steyn City Championship.
"I think my best result before the win was 17th in Mauritius a few years ago," he said.
"It's definitely a confidence booster and I'm excited for the two weeks ahead in South Africa."
Birdie
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 6, 2022
Par
Eagle
Birdie@A_Cockerill makes a move and is one off the lead 💪#MagicalKenyaOpen pic.twitter.com/4WkIrj9b61
Aaron Cockerill also finished at 12 under as the Canadian carded a 67 to secure his best DP World Tour finish.
"I haven't had many good results in the last little while so this kind of came out of nowhere," he said.
"I played the Challenge Tour the last few weeks and didn't really play great down there but it's different grasses and as soon as I got here and got on the greens the first day I was happy to see some bent grass again.
"It was just an awesome week and I'll just keep building off it and move forward."
