Kenya: Andersen Misses Cut in Matchplay

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Chris Mbaisi

16 June 2011

Kenya’s international golfer Stefan Andersen shot a one-under 70 in the second round of the 116th Amateur Championships qualifying rounds in the North-West of United Kingdom.

However, this was not good enough to make the cut and progress into the Matchplay championships that started yesterday. His total score of 150 (seven-over) was three shy of the predicted cut of four-over, 147. In Tuesday’s round, Stefan carded five birdies, two bogeys and a double at the tight Hesketh Golf Club that was playing warm and calm, compared with the rain soaked practice round two days earlier.

However, his opening round of 80 at the windy Hillside Golf Club cost him. Windy conditions played havoc on the greens and his putting let him down. “Never before have I seen a ball move away from the hole due to wind,” he said.

Hillside are celebrating their centenary next week and has hosted several high profile tournaments including the Ladies Open, and the Junior Open in 2008. The Matchplay finals of 36 holes will end on Saturday at Hillside.

High-profile players, who failed to progress, included last year’s runner-up James Byrne, 2009 Walker Cup player Stiggy Hodgson and rising Italian star Domenico Geminiani. A large contingent of South Africans participated and only two out of 11 made the cut, including Zone VI player Jared Harvey, who was in Mombasa in April this year and is ranked 8th in the world.

In addition to the Amateur Championship Trophy, this week’s winner will earn a place in the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George’s and an invitation to the 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta National.

Andersen returns to Kenya on Monday to play the Kenya Amateur Matchplay championships at Limuru from June 23-25, an event which will earn World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, the first tournament of it’s kind in the country.

WAGR points will be awarded to the last four players to reach the semi-finals. The R&A confirmed that the Kenya Match-play and Kenya Strokeplay championships this year will be ranked with the winner of both receiving automatic berths to the Barclays Kenya Open 2012. Currently, Andersen is the only World Amateur Ranked player in Kenya.

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