Kenya, South Africa top of the pile on Limuru course

Kenya's Jay Sandhu follows his chip from the 18th hole bunker during Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship on October 13, 2015 at Limuru Country Club. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Zimbabwe moved to third place with 443 just a shot adrift from the leaders after a 218 in the second round that included a one under par 71 by Visitor Mapwanya.

Hosts Kenya tied with defending champions South Africa on a total of 442 gross at the close of day two of this year’s Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship at the tough-playing Limuru Country Club course on Tuesday.

Kenya’s number one player John Karichu fired one over par 73 while his club-mate John Kariuki added his 74 and the third contributor was Bo Ciera who recovered from the first round 83 to shoot three over par 75 for the day’s 222 gross to finally catch up with the South Africans who would have been up by seven shots had one of its leading players not been disqualified for failing to sign his card.

South Africa’s Jason Smith had shot three under par 69 while Aubrey Beckley carded one under par 71 and Andre Neil 75. However, Smith walked out of the card-checking office without signing his card and was disqualified thus Jade Buitendach’s score of eight over par 80 counted for South Africa’s aggregate of 226 which gave them a two-round total of 442. Kenya’s Karichu missed a close birdie at the 18th after missing the greens on two.

He chipped short off the pin, missed the birdie, to take a par for his 73 which also included birdies on the second and 13th, and bogeys over the sixth, ninth and 11th.

“I really wanted a birded at the 18th at least for a level par, but the ball just dropped off the greens. But I am happy that we are at par with the South Africans and we will see how it goes in the third round,’’ said Karichu, who is Kenya’s number one amateur.

The South African’s Beckley birdied the third, sixth, and ninth and later at the 10th, 16th and 17th but also dropped shots over the fifth, and seventh and at the 14th and 15th at the back nine.

Zimbabwe moved to third place with 443 just a shot adrift from the leaders after a 218 in the second round that included a one under par 71 by Visitor Mapwanya.

Zone Six Champions Uganda moved to fourth place on 449 while Zambia dropped from joint second to fifth on 456. The battle the individual title appears wide open as Uganda’s international junior Daniel Baguma fired two over par 74 for 146 and just a shot behind leader Abrey Beckley of South Africa on 145 after his one under par 71.

Baguma tied with his compatriot Ronald Otile who squandered a one-shot lead after posting five over par 77. Four other players are tied on 147. They include Kenya’s Karichu and Kariuki, Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinoi and Zambia’s Peter Munyinya. The championship, which has attracted 13 countries, enters its third round Wednsday.