Royal’s Ooko in one-shot lead on Vet Lab course

The “Road to the KCB Karen Masters’’ campaign for Kenya’s professional golfers got under way at the long-playing Vet Lab Sports Club course where Royal Nairobi’s Erick Ooko took a one-shot lead after the close of round two Tuesday.

Ooko, who had posted two over par 74 during Monday’s first round, shot one over par 73 on Tuesday for a two rounds total of three over par 147.

He birdied the seventh hole in the first nine where he dropped shots at the third, sixth and ninth.

He however picked up a birdie at the 10th to finish the home nine on under par and a one-shot lead from Mumias Golf Club’s Dismas Indiza.

The big-hitting Indiza made two birdies at the fifth and seventh having bogeyed the first and third and a late one coming at the ninth to also sign for one over par 73 and a two rounds total of 148

Round one leader David Wakhu of Golf Park bogeyed five holes all in the closing nine where he also birdied the 13th for four over par 76 to drop to third place on 149.

Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) captain John Wangai, who is also the resident pro at Sigona was on his own in fourth place with 150 after firing the lowest round so far, a one under par 71.

He started the second round well, rolling in a birdie at the fifth though he made a double bogey at the par three-sixth, dropped one more shot at the ninth.

He however had an impressive back nine where he birdied the 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th though he dropped a shot at the home green.

The Vet Lab event is the first of a five-event series the local pros are using to pick their team for the Sunshine Tour-sanctioned KCB Karen Masters set for July 19 to 22 at the par 72 Karen Country Club.