Kenya’s top amateur golfer Michael Karanga finished Top 10 in this year’s edition of the Africa Amateur Championship carding a score total of +3 (291) over the four day Championship at the Par 72 Leopard Creek golf course. Brian Newman, 17, of host nation South Africa finished in first place with an impressive 2 under par 280.
The 30 year old Kiambu Golf Club resident player in round 1 grossed an impressive 4 under par 68 finishing with four birdies, one eagle and two bogies. His back nine hitting was spectacular where there was limited wind and the course was smooth with a 33 total shot score as opposed to 35 in the front nine. His lone eagle shot came at hole 18 to great cheer from the crowd.
Karanga who was the top Kenyan in the finishing list had a memorable round 2 Friday where he also made the cut finishing with a score of 2 under par 70. He had five birdies opening his account on the first hole clearing it with a shot less. His next birdie shots came in holes: 9, 10, 13 & 16. However his bogie shots that accounted for holes 3, 7 &12.
On Saturday in round 3, Karanga was not exactly at his best coupled with a tricky and slow course as he finished on a 2 over 74 score. He hit four birdies but had a double bogie in hole 10 and a bogey in hole 14 complicating matters even though his run of par shots in 12 holes came handy to make it to Round 4. His putting was difficult given the conditions thus a tricky game altogether for him.
The final day (round 4) seemed more intense for the ever calm and collected Karanga especially after hitting a bogey off the first hole. He hit four birdies ion consecutive holes (2 &3) and afterwards in the back 9 (10 & 11). He then went ahead to hit two further bogeys in holes 6 & 12 and then trouble ensued in holes 7& 9 and then holes 15 & 16.He closed his day with a score of 7 over Par 79.
John Lejirma of Railways Club and Adel Balala of Nyali Golf Club were tied in position 31 with a nett score of 311 on the board. Dennis Maara finished in Position 35 with a score of +25 (313) while Elvis Muigua who was tied in position 36 on a score of +27 (315) total final tally.
Meanwhile in the AAC Women’s Championship, Chanelle Mwangi finished fourth with a score total of +12 (228) across three rounds. The 18-year-old Muthaiga Golf Club based player had a total nine birdies and one eagle over the three days. In round 1, she finished on a score of 1 to par 73, round 2 ended on 9 to par 81 with the final round on day 3 ending on 2 to par 74.
Muthoni Kanana ended 11th placed with a score of +25 (241) with Bianca Ngecu ending on a +26 (242) to close at position 12th overall with Joyce Wanjiru in 13th position finishing with +27 (243) points total.
