Karanga continues KAGC dominance, books Kenya Open slot

Kiambu Golf Club’s resident golfer Michael Karanga continues to call the shots in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship, leading with a comfortable 1015 points against second-placed John Lejirma.

In the latest outing, the Kenya Amateur Matchplay Championship played at the lush Great Rift Valley Golf Resort, Karanga beat closest competitor Ebill Omollo of VetLab Sports Club 5 & 3 to be crowned champion at the 101st edition.

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Karanga had vanquished home player Francis Njenga 5&4 in the first round to set a date with Golf Park’s Sammy Mulama, a match-up he won 3&2 to advance to the quarters.

The unstoppable Karanga was at it again, pairing against another home player Kelvin Barasa in the quarters going for a 6&4 victory that sent him to the last four. Going up against another Golf Park player in Josephat Rono, Karanga played for a 6&5 win to set up the final against Omollo.

In the final, Karanga picked ten birdies in the 36 holes played against Omollo’s four to end up with a 5&3 win in the final match-up, a victory that books the elite amateur his place in next year’s Magical Kenya Open a European Tour meet. 

Courtesy of the win, he received Ksh 120,000 as the prize money while Omollo received Ksh 72,000 as the runner up. Rono finished third after Muthaiga Golf Club’s Taimur Malik gave him a walkover. 

The KAGC series takes a break this weekend and resumes on the 11 to 13 August for the second edition of the Malindi Open “Vasco Da Gama Cup” at Malindi Golf & Country Club. This will be the second time the Malindi facility is hosting the national event.

After action in Malindi, golfers will turn their focus to this year’s Kenya Amateur Stroke Play championship set for Karen Country Club where another ticket to next year’s Kenya Open is up for grabs.