Alunga secures third KAGC series victory in Eldoret
Golf
By
Peter Ochieng
| Nov 07, 2022
Michael Alunga from Uganda is the winner of the Manchester Salver, the Kenya Amateur Golf Championships (KAGC) series, played on the par 71 Eldoret Golf Club yesterday.
The soft spoken Alunga, 24, fired 140 identical grosses to win the tournament which was his third victory in the series ahead of Magical Kenya Open golf championships slated for next year.
He said playing in Kenya has been good for him with an appetite to win more on Kenyan soil in the coming events and secure "Kenya One" title at the end of the series.
"I'm happy to have carried the day being the only Ugandan to participate in this event. I have become more of Kenyan than Ugandan and playing in Kenya has given me much experience . There is too much golf in Kenya and it is very competitive. My success here has come because of good relationships with my colleagues," Alunga said.
Alunga, who started playing golf in 2009 before becoming a member of Toro Golf club in Uganda, stated that he wants to be one of the best golfers in East Africa.
This was his third win after beating Kenyans at the Tea Field Trophy in Kericho last month. He then won the inaugural Vasco Da Gama Cup at the par 72 Malindi Golf Club with two over par 146.
Alunga completed day one on joint lead with Eldoretr caddie Robert Khayeka Kisia together with Joseph Gathumbi from Kenya Railways with one under par 70.
On day two, Alunga maintained his pace to play level as Gathumbi played two over par 73 to remain second on one over par 143 as junior player Danny Chelogoi completed the podium with two over.
Chelogoi was the best player on the second day when he fired level par 71.
He added "Things were not going well on my side when I began in the morning but eventually it went on well," said Alunga.
Kenya Golf Union vice chairman Philip Ochola thanked the golfers for their cooperation.
"Thank you all, especially the Kenyans golfers for accommodating our neighbors," said Ocholla.