Ngugi drives an eagle to scoop last leg at Karen
Njuguna Ngugi follows the progress of his tee shot from the 12th tee during the Chairman's Prize golf competition for Kenya Professionals sponsored by Morrris Gitonga Njue, at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club. Ngugi on Wednesday completed a three rounds total of three under par 213 to win the third and final leg of the Barclays Kenya Open pre-qualifying events at Karen Country Club. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Ngugi, who had already qualified for the Open through the 2015 KCB Tour, posted a final round one under par 71 which included an eagle three at the third hole and a birdie three-at the fourth, and at the 17th and 18th, to beat day two leader David Wakhu of Royal by a shot.
- Wakhu started the day well, rolling in a birdie putt at the first hole though two late bogeys on his first nine and one more at the back nine saw him finish in second place after a one over 73 for a total of two under par 214.
- He won 26 points towards the qualifying series plus Sh30,000 while the winner of the event Njuguna Ngugi pocketed Sh40,000.
- Sigona’s John Wangai tied for the third place with Vet Lab Sports Club’s Nelson Simwa on two over par total of 218.
Kenya Railway Golf Club’s Njuguna Ngugi on Wednesday completed a three rounds total of three under par 213 to win the third and final leg of the Barclays Kenya Open pre-qualifying events at Karen Country Club.
Ngugi, who had already qualified for the Open through the 2015 KCB Tour, posted a final round one under par 71 which included an eagle three at the third hole and a birdie three-at the fourth, and at the 17th and 18th, to beat day two leader David Wakhu of Royal by a shot.
Wakhu started the day well, rolling in a birdie putt at the first hole though two late bogeys on his first nine and one more at the back nine saw him finish in second place after a one over 73 for a total of two under par 214.
He won 26 points towards the qualifying series plus Sh30,000 while the winner of the event Njuguna Ngugi pocketed Sh40,000.
Sigona’s John Wangai tied for the third place with Vet Lab Sports Club’s Nelson Simwa on two over par total of 218.
Wangai shot level par 72 while Simwa fired the tournament’s lowest round a four under par 68 to move to the top having started with a poor 78 in the opening round.
The two were just better than Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club’s Riz Charania who also shot level par 72 for 219.
Another Windsor player David Opati dropped to joint sixth with Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige on four over par for 220.
REMAINING SLOTS FILLED
A field of 31 professionals participated in the last leg of the three events series held to select the players who will fill Kenya’s remaining 12 slots in the 2016 Barclays Kenya Open scheduled for Karen Country Club from March 17 to 20.
Professional Golfers of Kenya(PGK) captain John Wangai said on Wednesday the pros will now embark on a serious preparations for the Open.
“We have a couple of events to be sponsored by the PGK which include a 72-hole tournament at Royal Nairobi Golf Club next week," said Wangai.
The full list of the 12 players who qualified from the three events are Nelson Simwa (Vet Lab) with 70.5 points, David Wakhu (Royal-69), John Wangai (Sigona-67.5), Frank Matilo (Muthaiga-58), James Karanja (Limuru-55), Tony Omuli (Golf Park-48), David Opati (Windsor- 47), Jacob Okello (Golf Park-45), Sullivan Muthugia (Nanyuki-44), Riz Charania (Windsor-43), Ally Orende (Vet Lab- 42.5), and Justus Madoya (Great Rift Valley Resort 39.5).
They will join Dismas Indiza, Brian Njoroge and Mathew Omondi who made the cut in last year’s Open, and the seven pros who qualified through the KCB Tour Order of Merit.
They are Greg Snow, Simon Ngige, David Odhiambo, Erick Ooko, Boniface Simwa, Richard Ainley and Njuguna Ngugi.
