Africa-Press – Kenya. Kiambu golfer Michael Karanga stunned Vet Lab’s Ebill Omollo to win the Kenya Amateur Match Play Championships at the Great Rift Valley Golf Club on Sunday.
In a 36-hole final, Karanga set up a sweet revenge against Omollo, who beat him during the Njoro Championship. He won the title 5-2 on the 33rd hole to record his eighth win of the season.
Karanga fired five birdies in the first 18 holes — 2, 8, 10, 13th and 14th with pars in 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 17 and 18 before dropping shots in 1, 4, 5, 15 and 16 for 2-up.
Omollo, on the other hand, recorded a single birdie in 14th, numerous pars and bogeys.
In the last 36 holes, it was an easy run for Karanga, who rolled in similar birdies — 2, 7, 9, 12th and 14th, with a number of pars and two bogeys while Omollo managed three birdies — 6th, 11th and 14th with pars and bogeys as Karanga ended the game in hole 33.
The victory earned Karanga an automatic ticket to the 2024 Magical Kenya Golf Open.
He said: “I knew it was going to be tough and I had to prepare well. Some of these amateur meetings across the country have been a pillar to this match play.”
In the semifinals, Karanga beat Golf Park’s Josphat Rono 6-5 as Omollo defeated Muthaiga’s Taimur Malik 2-1 to reach the finals.
In the quarterfinals, Karanga edged out home player Kelvin Barasa 6-4 and Omollo was a 3-2 winner against Ruiru’s Frank Munyuah.
Malik and Rono beat Uganda’s Godfrey Nsubuga and Ruiru’s Bernard Omondi 3-2 and 5-4 respectively.
With defending champion Dennis Maara out, the title remained open. Maara was eliminated from the championships by Malik who fired 5-3 in the round of 16.
Limuru-based Maara, who is also the Kenya team captain, won the title during last year’s event held at the Royal Nairobi after edging out Jay Sandhu 7-6 in the final of the 36-hole event.
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