Larry Ngala
17 December 2011
Mombasa — USA-based Abdul Sihag made a double bogey with three holes to go in the opening round but still went on to claim a two-shot lead at the 2011 Nyali Open.
The tournament, sponsored by Keringet Water and Kenya Tourism Development Corporation, started yesterday at the tough playing Nyali Golf and Country Club course in Mombasa.
The off-scratch Sihag, a member of Nyali, started off with a birdie at the par five-first hole, but bogeyed the second, fourth, fifth but closed the front nine with a birdie for one over par 36.
Six over par
He birdied the 10th but again bogeyed the 13th and 14th and a six at the par four-16th for three over par 38 and a 75 to lead by two shots from a bunch of players including tournament favourite David Opati, Vipingo Ridge’s promise Onyango, Royal Nairobi’s Silvester Odunga and Leisure Lodge’s Amos Kamau all on six over par 77 each.
But as expected, the par 71 course lived to its expectation with only 10 out of the field of 93 players breaking 80.
Found course tough
However, tying further behind on 78 were another group of four players, including three from led by national team captain Francis Kimani.
Also playing below 80 was Tanzania’s Nuru Mollel who shot eight over par 79. Those who found the course tough included Golfer of The year leader Joseph Karanja who shot 85, Muthaiga’s Frank Matilo(81).
Robinson Owiti (80 ) and the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort’s Justus Madoya who also fired nine 10 over par 80.
“The course is playing well but you have to keep the ball on pay. If you go off the fairway then you have a difficult chance of attacking for the flag,” said Sihag, who said the greens were relatively slow than expected.
The second round was still on at the time of writing where Sihag was one over par after the first nine.
The third and final round of the World Ranking event which is the grand finale of the 2011 Keringet Golfer Of The Year series will take place on Sunday.
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