Karanga wins his third Kiambu Open crown

Michael Karanga poses with his trophy [Mose Sammy, Standard]

77th-ranked amateur in the world, Michael Karanga is the winner of the just concluded fourth edition of the NCBA-Kiambu Open sponsored by Mediplus with a prize fund of Shs 500,000.

After he chalked a three-round total of 3-under - 73, 72, 68 (213) with a final day score of 4-under to cement his second successive win to make it three, having won the inaugural event in 2022 and the 2024 edition.

Naomi Wafula of PGA Baobab Vipingo Ridge Course who was among the three ladies who participated in this year's meet, won the 2023 Championship.

The other two ladies were Kellie Gachanga from Muthaiga Golf Club and Joyce Njuguini of Kiambu Golf Club, up against 75 male golfers.

Karanga picked bridies on the second, sixth and eighth holes. And on the par-four 10th, 11th, 13th, 16th and 17th holes, coupled with six pars and a similar number of bogeys for the superb finish.

His defensive play fended stiff competition from Royal Nairobi Golf Club's John Lejirma, who wound up with 75, 72, 73 (220), seven strokes adrift.

Lejirma, who alongside Rwandese player Alain Niyonkuru had a neck-to-neck challenge for the title, fumbled with a couple of shots on the par-four sixth, par-three

"This win has put me back in contention for the pole position. I'm currently placed third, which isn't my position. After this, I'm going for position one. Watch this space," said Karanga. Karanga pocketed Shs 115,600 for achieving this feat.

The tension was palpable among the featured group with the trio.

On the 16th hole, Karanga hit his tee shot 30 yards short of the green while Lejirma landed on the fringe, from where they both pitched and converted their easy birdies, but Niyonkuru managed a par.

The 17th hole, which was the Waterloo for most of the golfers crushed out, Karanga made an easy birdie, Niyonkuru again saved par but Lejirma forced a bogey.

Niyonkuru and Lejirma were shy off the 18th fairway, while Karanga landed 132 yards to the green from where his pin attack came short and plugged into the greenside bunker and had to well out punch before converting his winning bogey save.

Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Chairman David Ndungu lauded the rise in the number of juniors participating in the series, challenging them to compete for the top prize.

Sigona Golf Club's Hetansh Shah, Junaid Manji, and Golf Park's Kevin Anyien were among the juniors who participated in the tournament.

The course presented various challenges to the golfers, ranging from the course condition to the varying greens, which posed a challenge to most of them, the pin positions worsened matters for most of them crumbling out of contention on the moving day with the cut at +18-over with for 33 players plus ties.