Jayden Schaper went bogey-free on Thursday in the first round of the DP World Tour’s Magical Kenya Open presented by ABSA at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi and his seven-under-par 64 put him one stroke off the lead.

Schaper started his round on the 10^th, and made birdies on 10, 15, 17 and 18 ahead of the turn. Three more gains on four, seven and nine on his homeward stretch saw him end the day in third place behind joint leaders John Parry of England and France’s Benjamin Hebert. The leaders were also bogey-free for their totals of eight-under 63.

Behind Schaper, Jovan Rebula made a good start in a tournament to which he gained an invitation with a four-under-par 67. He was in a share of 10^th after starting his round with a bogey, and dropping another shot on the 15^th.

Louis Albertse and Deon Germishuys were in a share of 20^th with their opening three-under 68s, while Ryan van Velzen, Jacques Kruyswijk and Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-Smith were on two-under in a share of 33^rd.

Robin Williams made an eagle on his starting hole, the 10^th, but he dropped a shot on the 12^th and made a double-bogey on the 14^th. In the end, he signed for a one-under 70 with one more bogey and three birdies. In a share of 45^th, hell count himself fortunate and will hope that the recovery signals a change in his recent poor form.

With him on one-under was Casey Jarvis.

Richard Sterne had an opening one-over 72, Wilco Nienaber and Louis de Jager signed for 73s, Thomas Aiken went three-over, and Justin Harding and Neil Schietekat had disappointing four-over 75s.