Published on February 24, 2024 by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Last Updated on 2 years by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Kenyan golfers were eliminated from the 2024 Magical Kenya Open DP World Tour Championship (MKO) as not a single Kenyan national made the cut following Round 2 of action currently ongoing at the Par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club with cut-off being level par on Friday, February 23rd, 2024.
It was a literal struggle for the local boys out on a difficult course who had issues with their drivers due to heavy winds.
Home players Mutahi Kibugu, Njoroge Kibugu and Greg Snow despite spirited efforts failed to make headway in a day of utter frustration for both players and fans alike.
Last year’s lone Kenyan player to make the cut Njoroge Kibugu, 20, only managed a score of +3 (145) after two days of action on this year’s edition and was visibly annoyed with his performance.
Veteran Dismas Indiza, 55, of Mumias Golf Club finished on +2(144) and was the highest Kenyan tied in position 80 overall after sinking four birdies in the 10, 12, 16 and 18th holes. The ABSA Bank & Johnnie Walker sponsored time Safari Tour winner was however not as happy with his overall performance.
Kenya’s top amateur the KenGen sponsored Michael Karanga, 29, who was making a third stab also had a good effort finishing on Par in Round 2. However, his overall score of 145 only made him finish +4 on the leaderboard and in joint position 100.
“I am happy with my performance and I believe I did my best it was a good test ahead of my April trip to the USA for an invitational tournament,” Karanga said.
The top African player on the leaderboard after Day 2 was South African Louis De Jagger, 36, winner of career five Sunshine Tours who had a finishing score of -4(137) even as Ugandan Ronald Rugumayo ended his journey in Nairobi with a score of Par(142) and by so doing emerging the lone East African making it through the dreaded cut.
However, the biggest spectacle of the day was two former Kenya Open Champions Justin Harding of South Africa and Guido Migliozzi of Italy were eliminated in a day of high drama as they both failed to make a mark this year. Harding is a two-time champion in Kenya while Migliozzi is a three-time DP World Tour winner.
Kenyan Players Leader list
Dismas Indiza +2(144)
Njoroge Kibugu +3(145)
Michael Karanga +6(146)
Mutahi Kibugu +6(148)
Greg Snow +8 (150)
Jastas Madoya +9(151)
John Lejirma+9 (151)
Daniel Nduva +10 (152)
Mohit Mediratta+12 (154)
Samuel Njoroge +12(154)
Leaderboard – Day 2 MKO
Conor Syme -7(135)
Tapio Pulkannen -7(135)
Darius Van Driel -7(135)
Sam Hutsby -6(136)
Manuel Elvira -6(136)
Ewen Ferguson -6(136)
Frederic LaCroix -5(137)
Deon Germishuys-5(137)
Lucas Vacarisas -5(137)
Tom Lewis -5(137)
