Kenyans miss the cut for A division

What you need to know:

  • Kenya was placed third in the B division where they will now meet Mozambique in Thursday’s foursomes.
  • The final round singles is set for Friday.

IN MANZINI, SWAZILAND

Poor putting cost the Kenyan team a place in the A division matchplay foursomes at the Africa Region Five golf championship at the par 72 Royal Swazi Spa golf course in Swaziland on Wednesday.

During the 18- hole stroke play round, the Kenyans posted 23 over par 239, with the best round being John Karichu’s seven over par 79 to miss the A division by one shot.

The top Kenyan player, Kenneth Bollo, shot eight over par 80, as well as Jeff Kubwa while the fourth player Paul Muchangi carded 86.

“I was playing well until I three putted the 13th, having driven to about 41 yards off the green,” said Bollo, who had birdied the 12th and double bogeyed the 17th.

“We would have been happy to play in the A division against the rest of the top teams, although the B division is not that easy either,’’ said coach Brian Njoroge.

Kenya was placed third in the B division where they will now meet Mozambique in Thursday’s foursomes. Leading the B division was South Africa’s second team, which shot an impressive 214 that included a two under par 70 by Sentanio Minnie, Franklin Manchest and Anuerin Gouden’s level par 72 each.

Hosts Swaziland’s first team came second in the B division with 223. Other teams in the B division are Malawi A and B teams with 243 and 248, Mozambique on 249, Botswana 2 also with 249 and Lesotho, who carded 251 to claim the eighth slot. Leading the A division is South Africa’s top team of Dylan Naidoo (70), Thristen Strydom (71), Marco Steyn (69).

They finished well ahead of Swaziland’s second team, which posted 222 while Zambia was third with 224 gross.

Defending champions Uganda beat both Mauritius and Zimbabwe on countback to finish fourth on 226, with Botswana on 237 taking the seventh place while the last team in the top division was Namibia on 238. South Africa will now meet Namibia while Uganda is drawn against Mauritius.

Zimbabwe is paired with Zambia, while the last match will be between Swaziland B team and Botswana’s A team.

In the B division matches, South Africa B take on Lesotho, while the two Malawi teams will clash with Botswana B taking on Swaziland A.

The C division will be a battle betweeny Mozambique and Angola. There 18 teams altogether from 13 countries where South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, and Malawi had been allowed to field two teams though only one team from those countries were allowed in the A division where the match play foursomes will take place followed by the first singles in the afternoon. The final round singles is set for Friday.