Wakhu overcomes injury woes to win in Nakuru

What you need to know:

  • The Bet Lion-sponsored Wakhu, who is recovering from a right elbow problem, made two birdies at the first nine’s fifth and ninth holes and at the back nine’s 16th and 18th against a similar number of bogeys, to level the course for a two rounds total of five under par 141.
  • The win earned him a cash prize of Sh85,000.

Round one leader David Wakhu from Golf Park beat Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Erick Ooko by one shot to claim his first KCB Road to Karen Masters golf series title at the par 73 Nakuru Golf Club course on Saturday.

The Bet Lion-sponsored Wakhu, who is recovering from a right elbow problem, made two birdies at the first nine’s fifth and ninth holes and at the back nine’s 16th and 18th against a similar number of bogeys, to level the course for a two rounds total of five under par 141.

The win earned him a cash prize of Sh85,000.

“I have not been playing well since the season started because of the elbow problem which is however making some good progress. I am able to hit the ball well though I have lost a bit of distance but I am hoping to have completely recovered by the time the Karen Masters is played in June," said Wakhu.

He attributed his victory this weekend on putting and reaching most of the greens on regulation. “Since I am not able to hit as long as I used to, I made sure I remain on the fairways and reaching the greens on regulation. I am so grateful to my sponsors Bet Lion who have made my life much easier by making sure that they cater for all my expenses."

Ooko, who had started the round on one under par 72, fired three under par 70 for a total of four under par. His round included birdies on the fifth, ninth, 13th, 14th and 18th with two bogeys on the second and 15th, for a total of 142.

“Putting was a problem for me though I am happy generally with my game. I missed several birdie chances because of the uneven greens though generally the course was not so bad," said Ooko.

Newcomer Dennis Saikwa of Royal who turned pro this year and was playing his second event, shot two under par 71 to tie for long hitting Dismas Indiza who shot level par to also finish on three under par 143.

Saikwa eagled the ninth after picking up a birdie at the eighth, having dropped two shots earlier on at the second and fifth holes. At the back nine, Sakwa birdied the 15th and 16th but threw away a good chance of a maiden victory after bogeying the last two holes. Indiza who also blamed the difficult greens, birdied five holes but against a similar number of bogeys.

“The course is not so bad except the greens which are unpredictable. You can miss even a footer if you don’t read the line and speed properly, but I am happy my game is getting better as we approach the Karen Masters," said Indiza, who along with Greg Snow are under the sponsorship of Johnnie Walker.

It was however a tough outing for first and second leg winner John Wangai who could not master the tricky greens, firing one over par 147 to finish in fifth place. Two of the leading professionals Simon Ngige of Thika Sports Club and Muthaiga’s Greg Snow did not turn up at Nakuru.

A total of 24 professionals turned up for the fourth leg which was however the third for the pros who missed the opening leg at Sigona Golf Club.

Meanwhile a huge field of 150 amateurs including guests from various clubs in Nairobi as well as local golfers were still on the course battling it out for the six slots reserved for the amateurs in each leg, for the KCB Karen Masters.

From Nakuru, the next stop-over for the KCB-sponsored event will be Royal Nairobi Golf Club from June 15 before the Karen Masters set for June 25 to 30 at Karen Country Club.

The leaderboard:

141 David Wakhu (Golf Park) 68, 73

142 Erick Ooko (Royal) 72, 70

143 Dennis Saikwa (Royal) 72, 71

143 Dismas Indiza (Mumias) 70, 73

144 Tony Omulli (Golf Park) 75, 69

147 John Wangai (Sigona) 73, 74

148 Alfred Nandwa (Railway) 74, 74

149 David Opati (Windsor) 75, 74

150 Jeff Kubwa (Muthaiga) 76, 74

151 Joseph Karanja (Golf Park) 77, 74