Riz Charania fires his way to the top at Muthaiga

Vet Lab Sports Club's Nelson Simwa chips from the 12th hole fairway during the 2018 Kenya Open qualifiers at Muthaiga Golf Club. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Simwa picked up a double bogey at the par three-second, birdied the sixth and seventh only to drop a shot at the ninth.

Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club’s Riz Charania finally fired his way to the top of the leaderboard, as the third leg of the Kenya Open qualifying round entered its half way stage at Muthaiga on Tuesday.

Charania, one of the three Kenyan pros who are exempted from qualifying for the Open, carded three over par 74 for his narrow one shot lead from Vet Lab’s Nelson Simwa and home pro Greg Snow.

It was however, one of the days when birdies became elusive though he dropped a number of shots starting from the first nine where he bogeyed the first and second and later at the sixth. He, however, managed to pull one back at the fifth.

He bogeyed the par five-10th and the par four-14th with only a birdie coming at the home green for a two rounds total of 145.

On the other hand, Simwa picked up a double bogey at the par three-second, birdied the sixth and seventh only to drop a shot at the ninth.

Simwa however managed to redeem himself at the back nine where he birdied the 10th, and eagled the last hole though he had dropped three shots in between for one over par 72 to tie for second place with Snow, who fired three over par 74 to also wind up the day on 146.

Joint overnight leader Mohit Mediratta meanwhile dropped joint fourth with Ganeev Giddie on 147. He posted five over par 76 in the second round while Giddie carded two over 73.

Wednesday’s third round is set for 7am being a club-nite at Muthaiga where the pros will have to give room in the afternoon for club members.

Meanwhile, the top amateur golfer in 2017 Edwin Mudanyi of Vet Lab posted his second 75 for 150 to lead the five amateurs who are using the event as part of their build up for the Kenya Open scheduled for the same venue from March 22 to 25.

In second place on 152 after a 76 was Kenya’s top junior Mutahi Kibugu while Tanzania’s amateur champion Victor Joseph shot three over par 74 after a poor start on 81.

The third round leaderboard at Muthaiga;

145 Rizwan Charania 71, 74

146 Nelson Simwa 74, 72

146 Greg Snow 72, 74

147 Ganeev Giddie 74, 73

147 Mohit Mediratta 71, 76

148 Nicholas Rokoine 76, 72

149 Joseph Karanja 74, 75

149 Dismas Indiza 73, 76

149 Jeff Kubwa 75, 74