Tanzania's Victor Joseph grabs lead in Thika
Victor Joseph of Tanzania follows the progress of his shot from the first tee at Thika Greens Golf Resort during the Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship on October 24, 2019.
What you need to know:
- Joseph, who had posted one under par 71 in the morning’s second round, fired a similar score in the afternoon, to bring his aggregate to one under par 215, just a shot better than defending champion Samuel Njoroge who played level par 72 and two over par 74 in the afternoon for 216.
Tanzania amateur champion Victor Joseph went up by one shot going into Saturday’s fourth and final round of the 2019 Kenya Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at the par 72 Thika Greens Golf Resort.
Joseph, who had posted one under par 71 in the morning’s second round, fired a similar score in the afternoon, to bring his aggregate to one under par 215, just a shot better than defending champion Samuel Njoroge who played level par 72 and two over par 74 in the afternoon for 216.
During the afternoon round, Joseph from Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club, birdied the second, then dropped shots at the third, and fifth while at the back nine, he birdied the 11th, 13th and 18th with only one bogey coming at the 14th.
Njoroge, from Kenya Railway Golf Club, birdied the fourth and eighth against bogeys on the third, sixth and seventh and a late bogey at the back nine’s 16th to surrender his two rounds leadership to the Tanzanian.
Uganda’s Emmanuel Jakisa moved to the third place from seventh, after firing two under par 70 for a total of 217. Jakisa from Toro Golf Club in Uganda, played a clean front nine which included a birdie at the eighth. He then added more birdies at the back nine’s 10th, 12th and 18th with two bogeys and at the 12th and 17th denying him a low score and the lead.
Following Jakisa very closely was another Ugandan and his club-mate John Chinywaai who posted two over par 74 for a total of 219. The fourth round, which will decide on who grabs the slot in next year’s Magical Kenya Open, is set for 8am.
CHAIRMAN'S PRIZE
Meanwhile, Karen Country Club and Muthaiga will hosts the Chairmen’s Prize events, both having attracted huge entries. Action on Saturday will also be at Vet Lab Sports Club where lady captain Rose Mwarania is hosting her Lady Captain’s Prize which has attracted a galaxy of sponsors led by Communication Authority, East African Breweries, Coca Cola, Southern Sun Mayfair Hotel and D.T. Dobie who are offering a car for a hole-in-one at the par three-16th hole.
Mwarania has on the other hand, lined-up an array of prizes to be offered in the various categories which includes guests, ladies and men members.
Another big field will be at the par 72 Thika Sports Club course where over 200 players were drawn for the Kenya Tourism Fund golf day.
Limuru will be the venue for Vivo Energy as the nine-hole Kiambu Golf Club course stages the Tropikal Brands and Oxygene golf tournament which comes exactly a week after the Soldiers Golf event.
The leaderboard after the close of round three:
Victor Joseph (TZ) 73, 71, 71= 215
Samuel Njoroge (RLY) 70, 72, 74 = 216
Emmanuel Jakisa(Ug) 74, 73, 70= 217
Joseph Chinywai (UG) 74, 71, 74= 219
Taimur Malik (Muthaiga) 72, 75, 73= 220
Ebill Omollo(Vet ) 70, 76, 74= 220
Njoroge Kibugu(Muthaiga) 74, 71, 75= 220
Anthony Irungu (Muthaiga) 70, 77, 74= 221
