Sandhu in the lead as Muthaiga enters day two

Kenya Amateur Stroke play champion Jay Sandhu who is playing in the Safari Tour as part of his Magical Kenya Open preparations, shot three under par 68, to lead the field of 64 players into the second round of the Safari Tour series eighth leg at Muthaiga Golf Club on Sunday.

The 39-year old who decided to skip the second leg of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) held in Nyeri over the weekend for the more competitive Safari Tour is teeing off at 8.30 am on Monday, February 8, alongside Matthew Githinji and John Wangai.

Sandhu, from Royal Nairobi who is also a member at Muthaiga said he decided to shift base to Muthaiga because its par 71 course is tougher than Karen.

“I have spent a couple of weeks here practicing because I find this course slightly tougher than Karen even though I will also participate in the final leg of the Safari Tour. Playing against top players like the professionals, gives me a chance to know if my game is ready for the Open’’ said Sandhu after his first round.

He started the day with an early bogey at the par three-second, but leveled at the third, then parred the rest of the holes at the front nine. It was however at the back nine where he was able to play a low 32 after making birdies at the 12th, 15th and 17th to lead by a shot from Sigona-based pro Mohit Mediratta. 

Mediratta fired two under par 69 with birdies at the third, fourth, seventh, and at the 10th and 18th. He however dropped shots at the 11th, 15th and 17th having started the day with a bogey at the par four-first hole.

“My plan on Sunday was to try and play level par which worked well for me and in the process I was able to make some good putts for a birdie’’ added Sandhu who won the Stroke play at his home course Royal after losing to VetLab’s Isaac Makokha in the final of the Kenya Match Play Championship at Vet Lab.

Visiting Zambian pro Dayne Moore who is making his debut in the Safari Tour, shot one under par 70 to close day one in third place and just a shot better than Sigona’s Wangai who dropped a shot at the par three-second and later made two successive bogeys at the seventh and eighth though he closed the nine with a birdie. Wangai played the back nine well, rolling in birdie putts at the 11th, 13th, 14th though bogeyed the long par three-16th, to finish the back nine on two under which contributed into the day’s 71.

 Long hitter Dismas Indiza led a group of three that includes Nelson Mudanya and Thika’s Simon Ngige on one over par.