South Africans sweep podium

A birdie at the 15th hole sealed the victory for South Africa’s Michiel Bothma as fired three under par in the closing round to lead a 1-2-3 South African finish.

This year’s Barclays Kenya Open Golf Championship was held at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Bothma, who now leads the European Challenge Tour series, got off to a flying start, picking up a birdie at the first hole, followed by another one sooner after at the fourth.

Remained unshaken

He, however, dropped a shot at the fifth, but remained on course, playing very conservatively up to the back nine where he birdied the 10th to jump to 13 under par.

And as his cousin, Branden Grace, and another South African, Tyrone Ferreira, along with former Kenya Open champion Andre Bossert, applied more pressure, Bothma remained unshaken, picking up pars up to the 15th where he chipped onto the green from about 140-yard and holed in for a three to re-assure himself of his first Kenya Open title.

“I played a conservative round just like I did earlier during the week. I have a lot of experience because I have played in the European and Challenge Tour in addition to the Sunshine Tour,’’ said Bothma after handing in his final round card.

The winners received their prizes from President Mwai Kibaki, himself an avid golfer.

The leaderboard: Michiel Bothma (SA) 66, 67, 69, 68=270; Tyrone Ferreira(SA) 73, 66, 66, 67=272; Branden Grace(SA) 68, 71, 66, 70=275; Sam Walker(Eng) 68, 69, 72, 66=275; Andre Bossert(Sui) 70, 64, 70, 71=275; Ferederico Colombo (ITA) 70, 67, 71, 68=276; Marc Warren(Sco) 67, 74, 69, 66=276; Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 70, 68, 72, 66=276; Julien Quesne(Swe) 72, 66, 70, 69-277; Thomas Feyrsinger (Aut) 68, 66, 72, 72=277; Steven Tiley (Eng) 68, 72, 68, 69=277; Espen Kofstad (Nor) 73, 70, 69, 65=277.