HOW KENYA RETAINED AFRICA GOLF REGION FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP IN ETHIOPIA
Kenya’s national golf team celebrate after winning Africa Zone Four tournament in Ethiopia at the weekend.
By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS
Reigning champions Kenya beat rivals Uganda by 22 shots to retain the Africa Golf Confederation Region Four Championship at the Addis Ababa Golf Club Course in Ethiopia at the weekend.
The team lead by Captain Dennis Maara, comprised of Kiambu’s Michael Karanga who recently won the Coronation trophy, Railways’ John Lejirma and youngster Elvis Mbugua.
They posted a combined three under par 210 in the final round of the competition, for a team aggregate of 12 over par 864 against Uganda’s 886.
Rwanda who are set to host next year’s event, finished third with a total of 922 gross while hosts Ethiopia were fourth with 924 points and Tanzania finished last with a total of 951 gross. On form Karanga emerged as the best individual player having shot a total of four under par 280, five shots better than second placed Lejirmah who managed 285. Karanga carded three under par 68 in the final round while Lejirmah had 70.
The Kiambu Golf picked up his first birdie on the fifth hole after he played a bogey in the fourth hole, to close the first nine with a birdie at the ninth hole. He later dropped a shot at the 10th but birdied the 11th, 16th and at the 18th hole. Lejirmah on the other hand, birdied the fifth, eighth, 13th and the 16th and 17th, but double-bogeyed the 15th, having started with two bogeys at the third and fourth.