Jordi Garcia Pinto (left) shakes hands with Dutchman Tim Sluiter during the third round of the Barclays Bank Kenya Open.

By DONALD WELLINGTON

Spanish golfer Jordi Garcia Pinto is this year’s Barclays Kenya Open Golf champion after finishing the final round on a total of 12 under par 272, to beat his friend cum rival Tim Sluiter by a single shot at the par 71 Karen Golf and Country Club.

The win earned the 23-year old player Sh3.6million (30, 400 Euros) for the feat and he vowed to defend his title during next year’s tournament. Sluiter who settled for the runner-up prize went home with Sh2.5 million (21, 450 Euros) on a total of 11 under par 273.

President Mwai Kibaki who is also the patron of Kenya Golf Union (KGU) arrived at the club at around 12pm and started following the overnight leaders from the 13^th hole.

Greg Snow finished as the best placed Kenyan tied 34^th overall on two over par 284 and pocket Sh159, 705 (1, 365 Euros).

The ninth hole provided some real drama for the final group as Pinto edged into the lead on 11 under par, one shot clear of his playing partner Sluiter.

With the two players tied for the lead on 11 under, the Spaniard’s wayward tee shot at the ninth appeared to hand the advantage to Sluiter, who had found the fairway with his tee shot.

The Dutchman, however, attacked the pin and his approach dropped in the greenside bunker with the tricky pin position hugging the nearside of the green.

Garcia Pinto chipped out of the heavy rough to the fairway and produced a masterful piece of skill to roll his chip one foot from the hole, just shy of an incredible birdie, before tapping in for par.

Sluiter, faced with an extremely difficult third shot, could not get out of the bunker with his first attempt and while his second from the sand fell seven feet short, he rolled in the bogey putt to leave the gap at just one shot entering the back nine.

While José-Filipe Lima equalled the course record 65 set by Sluiter earlier in the week to move to eight under par, Brooks Koepka looked the most likely to challenge the top two as he reached the turn in one under for the day and eight under for the tournament, three shots back.

In the second nine, Pinto who was with Karen caddie Wyclife Kadenge, picked a shot on the par four 12^th, sunk an eagle on the five 15^th and dropped shots in holes 16 and 17. maillot de foot maillot de foot

Golf fans at the Karen Club today, following the Barclays Kenya Open Golf Championship.

By DONALD WELLINGTON

Local golf enthusiasts should brace themselves for a cracker tomorrow, the final round of this year’s Barclays Kenya Open Golf, as only five shots separate the top nine players at the ongoing tournament at the par 71 Karen Golf and Country Club.

Dutchman Tim Sluiter’s second round lead was checked as he tied with Spaniard Jordi Garcia Pinto on ten under par 203.

Brooks Koepka of USA, and Scotland’s George Murray are the closest challengers for the top two, trailing them by three shots, while Spanish Adrian Otaegui is fifth on six under.

Tim Sluiter held a one shot lead as the final group reached the turn, but things later turned. The Dutchman had a steady front nine as he birdied the par five second hole for the first time this week but he proceeded to bogey the sixth hole to reach the turn in level par and remain on eight under par with a first nine score of 35, having led overnight with that score.

In the second nine, he sunk a birdie on the par four 11^th hole, picked another shot on the par five hole 15, but bogeyed the next hole, a par three then ended with a birdie on the par five 18^th for a second nine score of 34.

Pinto, who had taken to the top briefly after opening with successive birdies at the first and second holes. The Spaniard dropped a shot each at the fourth and ninth, however to fall back to tied second place on seven under par, but bounced back in the back nine with three birdies on holes 12, 13 and 16 for a score of 33.

With a lucrative prize money at stake, the top players will be at each other’s neck today, making it a must watch.

President Mwai Kibaki who also doubles up as the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) patron is expected to fete tomorrow’s final. huarache soldes huarache soldes