Kenyans finish second in Challenge Trophy

What you need to know:

  • Naomi managed only two birdies and four bogeys while Ainly had birdied the fourth at the front nine, finished her round with a double bogey six at the 17th and a bogey at the home green which denied her a reasonable round for the day.
  • Magda Kruger added 80 for 148 as the third player Cara Gorlei shot 81. Finishing just two shots behind Kenya was Tanzania with a total of 455 which was 29 over par.

Hosts Kenya put up a spirited fight in the final round to finish second out of the 17 countries in the All Africa Challenge Trophy ladies golf championship at Muthaiga Golf Club on Thursday.

Kenya ladies champion Naomi Wafula re-discovered her usual top form to post two over par 73 though it was a recovery coming rather late as her colleague Josephine Ainley fired seven over par 78 for 151 and team aggregate of 27 over par 453.

Naomi managed only two birdies and four bogeys while Ainly had birdied the fourth at the front nine, finished her round with a double bogey six at the 17th and a bogey at the home green which denied her a reasonable round for the day.

The third player in the team, Christine Andersen, carded eight over par 79. Defending champions South Africa retained the trophy with a total of 16 over par 442, 11 shots better than Kenya who had a good chance of winning the trophy if they returned level and an under par score. 

The South African final round score  included an impressive round of three under par 68 by Michaella Fletcher, a round which included four birdies.

Magda Kruger added 80 for 148 as the third player Cara Gorlei shot 81. Finishing just two shots behind Kenya was Tanzania with a total of 455 which was 29 over par. Zambia was a distant fourth with 46 over par 472, and six shots behind them was Zimbabwe. Uganda concluded the top six with a total of 496.

Taking the individual title with a total of seven over par 220 was South Africa’s Michaella Fletcher who won by five shots from her compatriot Cara Gorlei on 225 despite her 80 in the closing round. Kenya’s Josephine Ainley came third on 226, three shots better than Tanzania’s Madina Idd and four shots better than another Kenyan player Naomi Wafula on 230.

Christina Andersen made it to the top 10 with 237 though five shots behind Tanzania’s Angel Eaton. Most of the ladies from the 17 countries will be at Royal Nairobi Golf Club for the 36-hole Kenya Ladies Open Strokeplay Championship.