Sunshine Tour Day 2: Kibugu eclipses Lejirma at the top as axe falls on 20

PHOTO CAPTION: Windsor pro golfer Njoroge Kibugu attacking the course at the ongoing Sunshine Development Tour Qualifying School at the Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort in Naivasha. [PHOTO/ SUNSHINE TOUR]

Windsor pro golfer Njoroge Kibugu carded three under par 68 to cruise to the top of the leaderboard after two rounds of three under par 139 on Day 2 of the Sunshine Development Tour Qualifying School in Naivasha.

Kibugu's flair on the tricky Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort fairways saw him eclipse Day 1 leader John Lejirma at the apex of the cutthroat competition that has a Sh 1 Million purse prize.

Lejirma of Royal, who dazzled found the pristine course a bit of a challenge as he closed Tuesday on one over par 71 for a total two rounds of two under par 140 to settle for second place.

The tough day also saw 20 casualties, out of the 70 players fighting for the elusive 10 Sunshine Tour tickets to South Africa next week, fall by the wayside and among the big boys who were knocked off by the menacing projected cut on +18 included Robinson Owiti (Vet Lab) and his brother Hesbon Kutwa (Royal )and Nelson Simwa, also of Vet Lab.

Greg Snow of Muthaiga managed to maintain his third place on one under par 141. Day 1 runners-up Isaiah Otuke of Vet Lab dropped to 16th (+6/148) while Celestin Nsanzuwera of Rwanda (+2/144) was the only foreigner in the top 10.

While explaining his giant leap from fifth to the top, an elated Kibugu told Standard Sports: " I'm proud of the way the day has unfolded for me. I played better today. I can't complain.

"I will strive to be consistent on the course in the remaining days, and the focus is to keep my game plan intact."

Edwin Mudanyi of Karen, who perched in fifth place, was also happy to make the cut, saying: "So far the event is quite good for me.

"I think the week is looking very promising with the positive performance I have staged on this course. I'm happy with the way the tournament is progressing for me, but the fairways are playing tricky; they are quite a test, but that's part of the game."

Sunshine Development Tour Day 2 Leaderboard

1. Njoroge Kibugu -3/139
2. John Lejirma -2/140
3. Greg Snow -1/141
4. Mike Kisia par/142
5. Edwin Mudanyi +1/143
6. Celestin Nsanzuwera (Rwanda) +2/144
7. Erick Ooko Obura +3/145
8. Michaek Karanga +3/145
9. Abraham Galgalo +4/146
10. Dismas Indiza +4/146
11. Mohit Mediratta +4/146
12. Samuel Chege +4/146