John Karichu pips Moraa to Limuru title

Home player John Karichu recovered from a poor start at the opening nine, to post a one shot victory against club mate Dennis Maara in the Limuru Open golf championship at the par 72 Limuru course on Sunday.

A member of the Uganda-bound national team Karichu, picked an early birdie at the third hole, but poor putting saw him bogey the fourth, fifth, sixth and a double at the seventh for four over par in the first nine.

“I was putting so badly and dropped all those shots because of three putting though I managed to improve at the back nine,’’ said Karichu. He birdied the 15th, 16th and 18th for the day’s two over par 74 and a total of one over par 217 to win his third Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series event.

Karichu won the first event the Sigona Bowl in the series and later on claimed the Coronation Cup last month in Nakuru.

His club mate Maara missed a birdie by a footer at the 18th for a par to miss a chance of a play off with Karichu.

His level par 72 for a total of 218 gave him the best nett score of 215 to win the Brackenhurst Cup as Royal Nairobi’s Jay Sandhu, with one under par 71 in the final round for 220 clinched the runner up prize in the main event where day one leader dropped to third place on 222 after picking up an eight at the 18th.

He blocked his driver to the right, tried to hit the green on two. He, however, sent his three-wood shot out.

Said Nandwa: “I gave it my best though the second particularly the last home just messed me up.”