It was a blustery day at Bonanza Golf Club, just outside Lusaka, but Simon Khan made an excellent start in the hunt for his maiden Legends Tour win, perhaps inspired by good friend Robert Coles’ victory last time out in the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship hosted by Colin Montgomerie.
The 2010 BMW PGA Championship winner had seven birdies and just a single bogey on his card. He made the turn in 34 strokes and accelerated on the back nine with four birdies in his final seven holes, including a two at the signature par-3 16th.
Khan comes into the week in good form, having finished 3rd two weeks ago at the Legends Tour’s flagship event. He played in the final group in Scotland, alongside Paul Lawrie and winner Robert Coles, and he spoke earlier this week about how impressed he was with his friend’s performance to claim the trophy. He’s hoping he can get into the winner’s circle this week.
“It was a good round,” he said. “I started well and then I had a bit of an unfortunate silly dropped shot on the 3rd. But after that, I got going again and hit some really nice iron shots. On the back nine, I wouldn’t say I played brilliantly. I got on two of the par-5s in two for a couple of birdies and I holed a couple of really nice putts for par on 13 and 14, which kept me going at an important part of the round.
“It’s very hot and it’s a warm wind, so it’s strange because sometimes you feel like the ball goes through it quite well and then it does get up a little bit. So it’s a little bit blustery at times, which makes it quite tricky picking the clubs. I’m looking forward to the morning and hopefully getting out with maybe a bit less wind. It would be nice. But it’s been quite windy the last couple of days, so we’re getting used to it a little bit, which helps.”
Khan is hoping to build on his best finish of the season in his last start: “The result in Scotland gives me confidence. And obviously seeing Rob win the PGA gets you going a little bit as well. That’s why I wanted to come here as well, because I thought I’ve been playing quite well and felt quite good coming in. I want to keep the momentum going and hopefully I can go out and have a good weekend.”
Khan, who is currently 14th on the MCB Road to Mauritius, is one shot ahead of last season’s Barry Lane Rookie of the Year, Patrik Sjöland after the Swede signed for a bogey-free 67. He leapt into 2nd with a birdie-birdie finish as he aims to improve on his best finish this season of runner-up at the OFX Irish Legends.
There’s a four-way tie for 3rd, including six-time Legends Tour winner Adilson da Silva, major champion Michael Campbell, tour rookie Scott Drummond and Kenya’s Dismas Indiza Anyonyi. A total of 18 players went under par in the first round, including Coles, who sits in the tie for 11th at -2.
