Lejirma, Karanga earn crucial World ranking points in Mauritius

Team Kenya to this year's MCB Indian Ocean Open's 11th edition, played over the weekend at the world-class Anahita Golf Club in Mauritius, posted mixed results with two golfers making cut against a tough field to play for crucial ranking points. 

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The duo of Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series leader John Lejirma, and 2024 KAGC winner Michael Karanga headlined a squad that also had Carl Wambasi, George Themburu, and Avnish Bhandari, going on to place sixth and 12th respectively to finish as the best placed Kenyans. 

A major stop on the WAGR calendar that attracts top amateur and professional players from across the region and beyond, the event was won by South Africa’s Logan Leisher after a gripping final-hole battle. 

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He secured victory by a single stroke over local favourite Pierre Pellegrin, who pushed the competition to the very end.

Delivering consistent and composed golf across three challenging rounds, Leisher carded 72, 74, and 71 to finish on 217, narrowly edging Pellegrin’s resilient performance of 72, 76, and 70 totalling 218. 

Completing the overall podium, Romain Payet from Réunion Island impressed with a strong finish of 80, 70, and 72, for a total of 222.

Lejirma, who elected to skip this year's Coast Open to compete in the Island nation, on his part, improved his game as the competition unfolded, recovering from a 82 opening-round score to card rounds 78, to make cut l, and 74, to place sixt on 234 overall, 17 shots off the winner. 

"I am grateful for the chance to grow and represent the country abroad,” Lejirma, who termed missing a home event at the Coast that would have seen him add to his 2000 points, unfortunate, said before leaving for Mauritius. 

Karanga, meanwhile, carded 240 overall after rounds of 80, 83 and 77. 

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The tournament featured some truly memorable moments, none more electrifying than a hole-in-one by Elise Tsang Man Kin of Team MCB Junior Golf on the iconic 17th hole during Round 2, adding excitement and delight for players and spectators alike.

Reunion Island Melliyal Schmitt won the Ladies Category and Madagascar's Luc Ratsimbazafy won the Senior Category

Amateur Category Results

1: Logan Leisher combined score of (72,74, 71, Total 217)

2: Romain Payet-combined score of (80,70,72, Total 222)

3: Charl Banard-combined score of (80,73,71, Total 224)

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Ladies Category

1: Melliyal Schmitt combined score of (82,77,72, Total 231)

2: Alexandra de Lavigne combined score of (82,82,85, Total 249)

3: Emmanuelle Champion Pricco combined score of (83,90,79, Total 252)

Senior Category

1: Luc Ratsimbazafy combined score of (87,84,85, Total 256)

2: Godefroy Andrade combined score of (89,82,86, Total 257)

3: Christophe Curé combined score of (91,84,87, Total 262 OCB)

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