Mediratta takes early lead at Kabete Challenge
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 15.06.26. | 10:49
Nsanzuwera, winner of the season-opening event at Thika Sports Club, remains well placed to continue his impressive start to the campaign,
Kenya’s Mohit Mediratta surged to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the Kabete Challenge, the third leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, at VetLab Sports Club.
The Sigona Golf Club professional carded a three-under-par 69 to take a one-shot lead into the second round.
Mediratta overcame an unsteady start that saw him bogey the 1st and 3rd holes, but he responded impressively with birdies on the 2nd, 11th, 14th, 15th and 17th to finish the day in pole position.
“I stayed patient throughout the round despite the slow start,” said Mediratta. “After dropping a couple of early shots, I focused on sticking to my game plan and taking advantage of the opportunities that came my way. The course is playing well and there is still a lot of golf to be played, so the focus now is on staying consistent heading into the next two rounds.”
Newly-turned professional Taimur Malik sits second on two-under-par 70 after a composed opening round.
Malik recorded birdies on the 4th, 13th, 16th and 17th holes, with bogeys on the 1st and 12th proving his only blemishes.
“I’m pleased with how I played today,” said Malik. “I gave myself a number of birdie chances and managed to convert some of them. It’s always encouraging to be near the top of the leaderboard, but there are still two rounds to go and my goal is to keep hitting good shots and remain in contention.”
Nigeria’s Godwin Okoko occupies third place on one-under-par 71 and is the highest-placed foreign player after the opening round.
The 20-year-old rising star mixed birdies on the 4th, 10th, 11th and 14th holes with a bogey on the 3rd and a costly double-bogey on the 7th, but recovered strongly to remain firmly in the title race.
“It was a good day overall,” Okoko said. “I made a few mistakes along the way, but I stayed positive and kept fighting. Being in contention after the first round is a good position to be in and I’m looking forward to the challenge over the next two days.”
Four players are tied for fourth place on level-par 72: Nyali Golf & Country Club amateur Adel Balala, Ndumberi Golf Club’s Michael Karanga, Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera and Karen Country Club professional Edwin Mudanyi.
Nsanzuwera, winner of the season-opening event at Thika Sports Club, remains well placed to continue his impressive start to the campaign, while Karanga continues to make a strong impression in his debut professional season following his runner-up finish at the NCBA Royal Classic earlier this month.
The three-day tournament has attracted a strong field from across Africa and beyond, with players competing for a share of the Ksh 1.5 million prize purse, as well as valuable Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points.
Round two resumes on Monday as the field battles for position ahead of the final day in what is shaping up to be another closely fought Sunshine Development Tour event.
