Dismas Indiza in action at Karen.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Local players had a bad day in office today at the on going Kenya Open Golf Championships at the par 72 Karen Golf and Country Club.

Out of the 28 local players who entered the premier event which is also part of the European Challenge Tour, only thre made the cut, to compete in the money bracket for the two final rounds.

The trio, Dimas Indiza (-6), Brian Njoroge (-2) and Mathew Omondi (-2) will now be the country’s focus in the final two rounds. Indiza and Njoroge also made the cut during last year’s tournament, but this could be the worst performance of the locals at the competition which has never been won by a Kenyan player. This year the cut was projected at two under.

South Africa’s Haydn Porteus took the stranglehold with a two shot lead as he now has 13 under par 131, with French born Portuguese Jose-Filipe Lima who was on top of the leader board on the first day, settling for the second spot on 11 under par 133.

Indiza who managed a round of three under on the first day, today played another round of three under. He started on a high note with two birdies on the par four first hole and par five hole two, parred par five hole three before picking another shot on the par four hole four, then played a bogey on the par four hole eight for a first nine score of 34.

In the second nine, the hard hitting player fumbled with two back-to-back bogeys on the par four holes 12 and 13, but recovered with three birdies on the par five hole 15, par four hole a17 and par five hole 18 for a score of 35 to remain Kenya’s main hopes in the competition despite the fact that he trailing the leader by seven shots.

Haydn 21, today played a round of seven under par 65 to enter the final two rounds as a favourite. He sunk a birdie on the par four first hole, dropped a shot on the par five second hole and recovered with another birdie on the par five hole three. He picked two more birdies on holes seven and nine for a first nine score of 33.

In the second nine where he dropped no shot, he posted two birdies on the par four holes 12 and 13, then sunk two more on holes 15 and 18 for a score of 32.

Leader board after Round Two:

1. Haydn Porteus       SA           -13                          131

2. Jose-Filipe Lima    Por         -11                          133

T3. Cyril Bouniol        Fra          -9                          135

T3. Brandon Stone     SA           -9                          135

T5. Jaako Makitalo     Fin          -8                         136

T5. Victor Riu               Fra          -8                         136

T5. George Woolgar    Eng         -8                         136

T5. Luis De Jager         SA           -8                         136

T5. Damian Ulrich        Swi        -8                          136 pandora earrings pandora earrings

Richard Ainley.

By KGG CORRESPONDENT

Controversy today surrounded Richard Ainley’s last minute disqualification as the 48^th edition of Kenya Open Golf Championship teed off at the Karen Golf and Country Club.

A heated argument ensued on social media after the Nakuru pro posted of his facebook page that:

“Because of my facebook post I’ve been refused to play as my invitation has been withdrawn. To those I may have offended I’m sorry. To all you other kenyans play well!”

The initial post on his page that he claims led to his disqualification, read: “I see colonization had not ended. Only Kenya’s elite and mzungus allowed to park at the Kenya Open Karen country Club. Us few players that have cars have to make a good long trek yet it does not matter if your late. Shindwe! I’m taking it low out of anger.”

However, in a rejoinder, Kenya Open tournament director Patrick Obath said Ainley was believed to have used abusive language on a marshal and security official when he arrived at the club.

“According to golf rules the world over any golfer or persons using comments, that may harm or discredit officials, fellow golfers, security officials, volunteers, third party and media persons will not be allowed to continue taking part in said tournament,” said Obath, who quoted the general regulations developed by European Tour Guides.

“I will not be playing at this year’s Kenya Open. I am serious and my decision is final,” said Ainley when reached for comment.

He added: “Playing at the Kenya Open one needs a minimum of Sh60, 000, because there is a registration fee of Sh20, 000, caddie fee for a whole week is Sh21, 000 and transport to and from the venue including food, the figure goes beyond Sh60, 000. Why should I pay to play at the Open?” cheap air max cheap air max