Good Start: Kenya snatch early lead in continental golf tourney

Team Kenya took a narrow but motivating one point lead after the first round of the All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) that started at par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi yesterday.

Kenya’s combined aggregate of 145, was made up of Josephine Ainley’s 72 gross, one over par to accompany Naomi Wafula’s 73 gross, two over for a team score of three over par.

The best two scores per round count towards the daily team score in the 54-hole strokeplay format.

The third Kenyan player, Christina Engell scored 77, six over par.

The best two scores qualified to be included in team score.

Ainley levelled par in the first four holes and picked a birdie in the par four hole five but dropped a shot in the par four hole eight but managed to hit a level in par four ninth hole as she putted her way to a total of 37 points in the fore nine.

Stiff challenge

Ainley started the back nine by leveling par in the first seven holes before she dropped a shot in the par four 17th hole, but recovered in the next hole with a birdie in the par five 18th hole for a total of 35.

She said: “Team Kenya hope to maintain throughout the competition but we expect stiff challenge from South Africa and Botswana.”

Wafula started off by leveling pars in the first two holes before she dropped a shot in the par four third hole. She recovered by recording a birdie in the par five fourth hole but again dropped a shot at the par four eight hole for total of 37 in first nine.

Two bogeys and a birdie saw Wafula end at level 36 in the second nine for the day’s total of plus two par 73.

Made mistakes

Wafula said: “Day one was good but I made mistakes over two holes and finished two over.”

Wafula maintained that the performance of day one will not affect the overall results in the tournament.

“The results of today will not count and I hope to recover and play much better tomorrow as we aim to win the overall title,” she said.

Engell posted 40 points in the first nine and 37 in the second nine for six over par 77.

Engel said: “I wanted to go for average scores but my chipping and putting didn’t happen the way I wanted.”

The Kenyans remained optimistic that they will maintain the lead and finish at the top at the end of the three-day competition that has attracted 17 African countries.

In team score, Tanzania and Zambia tied in third position with 156 points followed by Uganda (158), Zimbabwe (163), Egypt (166), Botswana (176),  Nigeria (181) while Cameroon (183) wrapped up the top 10 positions.         —opilipili@standardmedia.co.ke