PRIDE OF KENYA: Local pro Brian Njoroge follows his tee shot at the first hole yesterday. He finished the second round on four under. Photo by Peris Mukoko.

By DISMAS ONYANGO

Dismas Indiza leaped to the second overall position after the second round of the ongoing Barclays Bank Kenya Open at the Muthaiga Golf Club tied with two other players on five under, just a single shot off leader Morten Madsen.

He tied with Briton Seve Benson and Dutch Jurrian Van Der Vaart.

The Mumias player picked two birdies on the first nine and two in the second nine to lead five local players who made the cut. The others who made the cut that had been projected at one over were Vet Lab’s Brian Njoroge, Sigona’s Ganeev Giddie, Muthaiga’s Nicholas Rokoine and Royal’s Anil Shah.

Njoro finished the day as the second day as the second best placed local on four under and tied in the fifth spot.

It was the first time the 33 year old player made the cut at the premier event, on his second attempt at the event.

 “My expectations are quite high at the moment and I’m now hoping for a top 10 finish by the time the final round end. I am not under pressure, I am playing good golf and a top five finish will be even better,” said Njoroge.

He added: “Today just I struggled with my driver and I will have to work on it in the remaining rounds. The greens were, however, smooth today, better than yesterday.”

Njoroge who played three under in the first round, yesterday played one under par 70 to move to four under par 138 and enter the third round tied on fifth position.

In yesterday’s round, he had a false start, dropping a shot on the par four first hole, recovered with a birdie on the par four third hole, but tumbled again on the par three fifth. He sunk another birdie on the par five seventh but had a double bogey on the par four ninth for a first nine score of 38.

In the second nine, Njoroge a former golfer of the year, dropped a shot on the par five hole 10, but recovered with a birdie on the next par three hole 11. He picked more shots on the par three 13^th, par four 15^th and par three 16^th hole for a score of 32.

Pre tournament favourite Nicholas Rokoine played an impressive round of three under par 68, but his first round poor performance of four over meant that he finished the second round on one over par 143.

“I was swinging well today, better than yesterday and the greens were also in a better condition today. I plan to focus on my putting in the last two rounds,” said Rokoine who last week won the Jamii Telcom Masters at the same venue.

The shock of the day was James Lorum’s score of five over par 76, which saw him miss the cut as he finished the second round on three over par 145 to miss the cut by two shots.

He only needed to play level par in the second round after managing two under on day one, but the going looked tough for the Njoro player.

Robinson Owiti registered the worst score in the competition, bowing out on 29 over after the two rounds, one of the worst scores in the history of the competition. cgparkashop cgparkashop

Local professional Dismas Indiza gestures during a press conference after the first round of Kenya Open Golf at Muthaiga Golf Club.

By DISMAS ONYANGO

Local pro Dismas Indiza raised the hopes of local players as he finished yesterday’s first round on four under par 67, only three shots shy of overnight leader Morten Orum Madsen.

The hard hitting golfer was tied fourth and will be a favourite to make the cut during today’s second round cut.

 “I played well today. I only had problems on hole four when my tee shot went to the bush, but I got out well and managed to get a par. On hole 10 I also went right, but again managed to pick a shot. I want to play safe tomorrow (today) to avoid any swuprises like last year,” said Indiza.

He added: “Today I played a soft eight iron on hole 13 which messed me up last year as I played par. Last year I was three under coming into the same hole and I dropped five shots to end the round on 10 over, so I want to be cautious this time.”

Indiza started poorly with a bogey on the par four first hole, but recovered with a birdie on the par four hole three, dropped another shot on the par three fifth before hiting back to back birdies on the par four holes eight and nine for a first nine score of 35.

In the second nine, the 44-year old golfer started with two birdies on the par five hole and par three hole 12. He picked another birdie on the par four hole 14 for a score of 32.

“The greens were hard and fast today, only the green on hole six was soft. The bankers are also very hard and I expect to play with winds today as I will be teeing off in the afternoon,” Indiza said.

Vet Lab’s Brian Njoroge finished as the second best Kenyan on three under par 68, while Njoro’s James Lorum finished as the third best placed Kenyan on two under par 69 and he was tied 14^th overall after the first round.

Lorum sunk two birdies and dropped two shots in the first nine and in the second nine played a boggey before sinking two back to back birdies on holes 17 and 18.

“Hole 10 was tricky today, but I was two on with a three putt. I am optimistic I will make the cut tomorrow, I only need to play level picking shots will be a bonus to me. I don’t want to be aggressive in tomorrow’s round, I will play safe,” said Lorum.

Nyali’s Kopan Timbe and Sigona’s Ganeev Giddie finished the day on one under, while Royal’s Anil Shah was on level par, as Jacob Okello played two over and Greg Snow was on five over the first round. michael kors tasche michael kors tasche