CHARANIA TAKES EARLY AT THE KCB EAST AFRICA GOLF TOUR GRAND FINALE AT THE NYALI CLUB
EYES ON THE BALL: Professional player Anil Shah follows his tee shot during the KCB East Africa Tour Grand Finalle at the Nyali Golf and Country Club.
By JAPHETH KAGONDU
Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Captain Rizwan Charania was in his best form yesterday as he sunk four birdies, two in each side to lead a group of four on one under par as the 2011 KCB East Africa Golf Tour finals got under way at the tough playing Nyali Golf and Country Club course.
Charania who missed cut in Arusha and Kampala out of the few events he played this year, played a steady front nine which included birdies at the fifth and ninth with a bogey at the seventh, then birdied the 13th and 14th after dropping a shot at the par five-11th and the 18th for one under par 70 to tie with Royal Nairobi’s Anil Shah, Thika’s Simon Ngigi and Rwanda’s Emmanuel Ruterana.
Shah birdied the two par fives at the front side where he also dropped a shot at the ninth, started the back nine with a bogey at the par three-10th but eagled the 11th, par five, dropped a shot at the 16th and 18th with a birdie at the 17th, while Ngigi took off well with an eagle at the first hole but dropped two back to back shots soon after, and managed to pick up one birdie at the eighth and at the back nine birdied the 13th and eagled the 17th but he had dopped a shot earlier at the 15th while a double bogey at the last
green after missing the green, denied him an outright lead.
Ruterana made five birdies but a double bogey at the 13th spoiled the party for him. Finishing a shot behind the leaders was Jacob Okello from the Golf Park with level par 71 while three others including tournament favourite Greg Snow were on one over par 72.
The others were Hesbon Kutwa of Royal Nairobi, and Nakuru’s Richard Ainley. Njuguna Ngugi, Dismas Indiza and Uganda’s Deo Akope fired two over par 73 to make the top 10 list. The second round of the Sh3m event starts at 11am. Only 39 professionals turned up for this year’s grand finale. canada goose jacke herren canada goose jacke herren