Muthaiga’s Nicholas Rokoine crowned JTL Masters winner

Home player Nicholas Rokoine survived a late scare to win this year’s JTL Masters Golf event the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club and, in the process, set the pace ahead of next week’s Kenya Open Golf Championships to be held at the same venue.

The Muthaiga professional ended the four-round event on two under par 282 (67, 69, 71, 75), despite playing a final poor round of four over par 75 and walked home with the winner’s prize of Sh300, 000.

Nicholas Rokoine in action at the Muthiaga Golf Club, Friday. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

"My tee shots were not good today and I had a problem in putting, but I am satisfied with my general performance and I am looking forward for an improved performance at the Kenya Open next week," said Rokoine.

At Friday final round, Rokoine, who started with a win in the first round before losing the second, but recovered to resume the lead in the third.

He had a poor start, dropping a shot on the par three second hole, but dropped back to back shots on the par five hole four and par three hole five, before recovering with a back to back birdies on the par four hole six, par five seven and par four hole eight for a first nine score of 38.

In the second nine, Rokoine, who won the KQ Pro Am a fortnight ago, dropped two shots on the par five hole 10 and par four hole 12 for a score of 37.

Windsor’s Riz Charania tied in the second position with Stephan Andersen on level par 284 and each pocket Sh175, 000 for their feat.

Charania played a round of four over 75 Friday after he dropped three shots on the par four hole nine. He had previously dropped shots on the first and fifth holes to finish the first nine on a score of 41. He, however, tried to recover in the second nine where he sunk a birdie on the par five 18th to register a score of 34.

Andersen on the other hand posted one under par 70 picking three birdies and drooping two shots. Last year’s winner Greg Snow tied in the fourth spot with David Odhiambo on one over par 285.

The Kenya Open starts at the same venue on March 29 throgh to April 1. As expected, Kenyan golfers will hope to go a notch higher than last year. The ProAm will begin on March 27 through to March 28.