Richard Ainley lines his putt during a past KCB Golf Tour event. He currently holds a six shot lead at Royal Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Left handed pro Richard Ainley extended his lead by six shots on day two of the KCB Golf Tour as 14 professionals made the cut for the remaining two rounds at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club.
After two rounds of brilliant display, Ainley leads the pack with an impressive 8 under par 136.
Ainley was all smiles after day 2 action which saw pros contend with scorching sunny conditions: “Its been a good two rounds for me. Playing 67 on Tuesday and 69 today makes me feel happy by my general performance. My score today means that I will play under little pressure on the last two rounds,” said Ainley.
Long-hitter Dismas Indiza shot a similar round of 71 on day two to settle for joint second place with Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige on 2 under par 142.
Ngige who shot two under on Tuesday was left to rue the two boogies he collected on the last two holes with a level par round on day 2.
“I had some very bad chips on hole 8 and of course the boogies I picked on holes 17 and 18 messed me up. Generally its not that bad as we have two more days of play to lower the score,” said Ngige.
After playing two under Tuesday, Royal’s Greg Snow played one over par 73 in round two for a total of 1 under par 143. Snow is lying fourth.
“I’m happy that we professionals are putting up some good preps ahead of the Kenya Open. I think the number of tournaments we are playing will help us do well,” said Snow.
Ainley started off on a modest note with eight pars and 1 burdie on the first nine for a total of 36. It was indeed in the second nine that Ainley showed what stuff he is made of.
The Nakuru man sunk in a total of 4 birdies on holes 11, 14, 15 and 17 top return a score of 33 in the second 9. It could have gone even lower for Ainley had he not dropped a shot in hole 13.
Boniface Simwa who was lying second on Day 1 with 4 under got a rude shock with an excruciating round of 5 over par 77 for a total of 143.
Play resumes at 8am on Thursday.
The first groups at the first and 10th tee begins at 8am.
The KCB Golf Tour 2015 heads to Thika sports club on Aprill 14-17. May 14-16 takes the event to Nyanza Golf Club while July 2-4 will see golfers head to Nakuru Golf Club. The grand finale will be atNyali Golf Club on August 5-8.

Day 2 cut was +4. Below is a list of those who have made the cut today:
1. R. Ainley 67, 69 (136) -8
2. D. Indiza 71, 71 (142) -2
2= S Ngige 70, 72 (142) -2
4. G. Snow 70, 73 (143) -1
5. B. Simwa 68,77 (145) +1
5= F. Matilo 70, 75 (145) +1
5= E. Ooko 73, 72 (145) +1
8. B. Njoroge 71, 75 (146) +2
8= D. Opati 76, 70 (146) +2
10. N. Mudanyi 72, 75 (147) +3
10= J. Karanja 74,73 (147) +3
12. P. Thuo 73, 75 (148) +4
12= N. M. Ngugi 75, 73 (148) +4
12= D. Odhiambo 78, 70 (148) +4 nike air max junior nike air max junior

Richard Ainley follows his tee shot at a recent event. He is currentlt on top of the leader board at Royal Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Nakuru resident pro Richard Ainley was in imperious form as the opening round of the KCB Golf Tour teed-off at Royal Nairobi Golf Club on Tuesday.
Undaunted by early morning windy conditions, Ainley played an impressive round of 5 under par 67 to go to bed with a one shot lead on Day 1.
Benson Simwa played four under 68 to occupy the second position.
International Greg Snow and Frank Matilo were joint third on 2 under par 70.
Dismas Indiza, Hesbon Kutwa and Brian Njoroge finished joint fifth on a score of 1 under par 71.
Ainley, who has been playing some super golf lately, however note that his score would have been better if it were not for the two careless shots he made on holes 6 and 18.
“I’m really glad to have shot the same score I did at the same venue during the KQ series. I’m rather disappointed though that my score today would have been lower if it were not for the two careless shots I made. Conditions were very windy so it was difficult for me to place my shots where I wanted to and with the dry weather the course was playing really tight,” said Ainley.
Ainley parred on par 4 hole 1 but picked up 3 birdie on holes 2, 5, 8 for a score 36 in the first nine.
The Nakuru pro sunk in four more birdies on holes 10, 14, 15 and 16 for a score of 33 in the second nine.
Boniface Simwa was five under going into hole 18 but picked a bogey that saw him lose the lead to Ainley.
Indiza started off really well in the first nine where he shot two eagles on par 5 hole 7 and par 4 hole 3.
“I started really well in the first nine but made some grave errors on the back nine. I’m happy though that I’m playing really well at the moment and my swing is closer to where I want it to be,” said Indiza who is a member of the three man team that KCB sponsored to the recent Sunshine Tour in George and Johannesburg.
Top GOTY Amateurs who are preparing for Africa Zone 6 played badly with the best being K. Bollo and Bavnesh Chandaria shooting 3 over 75.
Tournament Director Elisha Kasuku said pros are excited having KCB as the title sponsor for the last 10 years.
“This is a good exposure for pros as its a great exposure for the Kenya Open. We are confident that top pros like Indiza can pull surprises in the Kenya Open. Play resumes today at 9.30am on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s round will see the top 12 players make the cut and the rest fall by the wayside. A total of 45 golfers are taking part in the event. The cut tomorrow, according to tournament director Kasuku, is being projected at +4.

Leader board, Round 1:
1. Richard Ainley 67 (-5)
2. Benson Simwa 68 (-4)
3. Greg Snow 70 (-2)
3= F. Matilo 70 (-2)
3=Simon Ngige 70 (-2)
6. Hesbon Kutwa 71 (-1)
6= Dismas Indiza 71 (-1)
6= B. Njoroge 71 (-1)
9. Jacob Okello 72 (level)
9=N. Mudanyi 72 (level)
11. P Thuo 73 (+1)
11=E. Ooko 73 (+1)
13. J. Karanja 74 (+2)
13=Ajay Shah 74 (+2)

Amateurs results:
K. Bollo (Royal) 75 (+3)
B. Chandaria (Muthaiga) 75 (+3)
Robinson Owiti (Vet Lab) 76 (+4)
Nelson Simwa (Vet Lab) 78 (+6)
John Karichu (Limuru)78 (+6)
Alfred Nandwa 78 (+6)
Justus Madoya (RV) 81 (+9)
W. Odera 82 (+10)
D. Sakwa 82 (+10) pandora charms sale pandora charms sale