AfricaPress-Kenya: Kiambu golfer goes one better than Lejirma in Nyeri tournament.
Michael Karanga clinched the 68th edition of Postal Corporation of Kenya – Mt Kenya Championship title in a hill-to hill duel against John Lejirma of Kenya Railway Golf Club by a single stroke at Nyeri Golf Club over the weekend.
The Kiambu Golf Club player powered through the course on the final day of the Kenya Golf Union sanctioned Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series to claim a double after winning Sigona Bowl a fortnight ago.
It was sweet revenge for Karanga against Lejirma, who was the top amateur at Uganda Open early last month.
Even after posting 2-over par-144, Karanga has little time to rest as they prepare for the Muthaiga Open 2021 next weekend.
Other top contenders for the KAGC points including Peter Rimui of Nanyuki Sports Club, G Kariuki, Ebill Omolo of Vet Lab Sports Club, Great Rift Valley Golf Resort’s Simon Njogu and Simon Karari won’t let Karanga rest easy.
The pack is keen on hunting for more points that will count towards earning them slots to the 2021 Magical Kenya next month.
Karanga started his second day with an overnight leader advantage at 2-under par-70, a stroke ahead of Lejirma at 1-umder par- 71 as he sought to widen the gap but Lejirma wouldn’t take it lying down.
He picked birdies on the first, second fourth and fifth holes as Rimui matches their pace as he sank back-to-back birdies on the first, second, third holes. He then parred the third and birdied the fifth before parring the sixth and seventh holes.
A head-to-head competition between the trio saw them tie after the 16th hole.
“I’m delighted because beating Lejirma is the best revenge ever. He had beaten me in two tournaments; Nairobi District Foursomes last year and this year,” said Karanga.
“Every time I faced off with him, I lost, but this time, I had the last laugh. It feels great. My focus now shifts to securing a slot to play in the Magical Kenya Open 2022 as an amateur but God willing I would like to play in the 2023 edition as a professional golfer” he added.
Postal Corporation of Kenya were the title sponsors of the two-day meet that saw top amateur golfers converge at the scenic par-72 course.
Postmaster General Dan Kagwe said; “As one of the oldest corporations in the country, we are proud to be associated with such a historical event through this sponsorship.”
Mt Kenya Championship and Sigona Bowl were the only KAGC events played before Covid-19 pandemic struck at the beginning of last year.
