Kakamega Golf Club’s veteran professional Dismas Indiza and Joseph Karanja of Golf Park are tied top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the Rift Valley Championship, the eighth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour, at Nakuru Golf Club.
Indiza carded a two-under-par 71 on the par-73 course, with five birdies on holes 2, 5, 12, 16 and 18, and an eagle on the 13th. However, bogeys on holes 1, 3, 6, 14 and 17 kept him from extending his advantage.
“It was a good round overall, and I’m pleased with how I played today. I managed to make some good birdies and take advantage of a few opportunities, although there were also some mistakes along the way. I’ll take the positives into the next round, stay focused and try to put myself in a good position going into the final day,” Indiza said.
Karanja matched Indiza’s score with a round featuring six birdies on holes 6, 7, 11, 13, 15 and 16. Bogeys on holes 3, 4, 8 and 10 offset some of his gains, leaving him level with the veteran professional at the top.“I’m happy with the way I played today. I made some good putts and managed to create opportunities for birdies, even though I gave away a few shots as well. It’s a good start to the tournament, but there is still a long way to go, so I’ll focus on keeping my game consistent over the next two rounds,” Karanja said.
Simon Njogu and John Lejirma are tied for third place, with both players listed at one-under-par 72. Njogu recorded four birdies on holes 1, 8, 14 and 16, against bogeys on holes 3, 10 and 18. Lejirma produced an eventful round, making seven birdies on holes 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 16 and 18. However, bogeys on holes 4, 8 and 17, alongside a triple bogey on the seventh, proved costly. “It was a mixed day for me. I made some good birdies and felt I was playing well, but the triple bogey cost me a few valuable shots. I’ll need to stay patient, minimise the mistakes and make the most of the opportunities that come my way in the next round,” Lejirma offered.
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John Karichu, Samuel Chege and Edwin Mudanyi are tied for fifth on level par, while Kenneth Bolo, Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera, Elvis Muigua and Ganeev Giddie share eighth place.The tournament continues on Monday, 26 October with the second round, after which the top 30 players and ties will advance to Tuesday’s final round. The championship offers golfers the chance to claim the first Sunshine Development Tour title in Nakuru and a share of the Ksh2 million prize purse, with the winner set to take home Ksh 400,000.
Players are also competing for Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points as they seek to strengthen their standings and earn opportunities to progress to the main Sunshine Tour. The event also offers Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points for professionals and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points for eligible amateurs.3K FC claim first FKF Premier League win as late Nairobi United goal denies APS Bomet