Is Haq to lead Kenya junior side in Africa

Agil Jamal follows the progress of his shot from the 18th Fairway during the Victoria Cup Golf tournament on June 4, 2016 at the Muthaiga Golf Club. This year's edition will be held from July 6 to 8 in Uganda. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Is Haq emerged the best junior golfer in 2016, retaining his place in the national junior team while qualifying for the 2017 Barclays Kenya Open that will be held at Muthaiga from March 22 to 26.

The country’s top junior golfer Agil Is Haq from Nyali Golf and Country Club, currently playing off handicap one, will lead Kenya’s challenge in this year’s Africa Junior Golf Championship in Harare.

Is Haq emerged the best junior golfer in 2016, retaining his place in the national junior team while qualifying for the 2017 Barclays Kenya Open that will be held at Muthaiga from March 22 to 26.

“I am happy to have been given a slot for the Kenya Open. It will be great to play with some of the best pros from various places in the world. Right now I am attending classes so I cannot play in our captain’s prize but will start preparing for the big events soon’’ said Is Haq at Nyali on Saturday.

Other players in the junior team will be Mutahi Kibugu of Muthaiga and Zubair Khan also from Muthaiga and Windsor’s Akshay Chandaria. All the three are playing off handicap four.

Releasing the names of the team, JGF president Gitonga Kabera said the team selection was based on the JGF Order of Merit. He said the boys would travel with the girls team which will be under coach Rose Naliaka.

The boys team will be coached by Brian Njoroge and will be accompanied to Harare by the Kabera.

The girls team will be made up by of Kenya ladies champion Kellie Gachaga (4) from Muthaiga, Ashley Awuor (6) from Golf Park and Loise Akinyi also from Golf Park and also playing off six.

Kabera, noted  that the team was made up of strong and experienced players and he was confident that they would qualify for the Toyata  Junior World cup in Japan in June.

In Asia, Australia’s Adam Scott was among four players tied for the lead at the Singapore Open yesterday when a tropical storm and fading light forced the suspension of the third round.

Already behind schedule after Southeast Asia’s fickle weather disrupted the opening day, the storm left Asian Tour officials scrambling to finish the $1million (about Sh100 million) tournament on time.

Organisers face the possibility of a Monday finish after heavy rain resulted in more long delays at the Sentosa Golf Club.

Thunder and lightning caused a three-and-a-half-hour delay and of the 77 players who made the cut, only 45 completed their third rounds, leaving the remaining 32 to return to the course early on Sunday to finish where they left off.

“It’s one of those unfortunate days - stop and start, and kind of tricky conditions at the end there,” said Scott.

“Unfortunately I dropped a shot, but I’m still in the mix, so it’s not too bad and I’m in good shape.”

The players did manage to get back on course after ground staff drained the greens of surface water and made some repairs to the bunkers, but play was again halted when darkness fell.
Scott, playing in the final group, was on the 14th hole when play was abandoned for the day in drizzling rain.

Already a three-time winner of the Singapore Open, he was locked in a four-way share of the lead with his playing partner, South Korean-born American Han Seung-su, and Thai pair Tirawat Kaewsiribandit and Phachara Khongwatmai, who managed to complete their rounds to share the clubhouse lead.

Additional reporting by AFP