Golf: Khan leads at the 2019 Junior Strokes play Championships

Zubair Khan follows his swing. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Home club’s junior golfer Zubair Khan rallied from behind to take Day Two lead at the ongoing Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) Junior Stroke play Championship at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Course in Nairobi yesterday.

The home golfer, who was second on Monday with a five-over-par 76 gross, fired an impressive one over par 72 gross to register 148 gross. The results put him in pole position in the Day Two leader board ahead of the final leg today.

Yesterday, Khan sank three rare birdies at the par-five fourth, the par-five tenth and the par-five eighteenth holes with an additional 12 pars against a mixed pot of bogey shots in both nines to take the lead.

“I am excited but there is more work to do in the final round. I am certain of victory, God willing," said Khan.

Club mates Mutahi Kibugu came second with 150 gross (78, 72) while Taimur Malik returned third in 153 gross (79, 74) tying with Thika Sports Club’s Brian Omondi who posted the same score.

Muthaiga's Njoroge Kibugu, who had 75 gross on Monday, was among in top ten contenders despite a poor run in the second day where he scored eight over par 79 gross.

Others are E N Njugu (Muthaiga) with 165 gross, Noah Korir (Nandi) with 157 gross, Steve Orinda (Vet Lab) with 158gross, Lee Kimathi (Windsor) with 159gross and Victor Maiyo of Kericho with 159 gross.

The competition brought together about 60 leading junior golfers in the three-day action that's sponsored by Crown Paints.

At Royal Nairobi Golf course, Mathew Kigen won the 2019 Sunset Golfing CSR with 38 points on Friday.

Ceasar Handa with 36 points and Joseph Kogo on a countback score of 35 points were second and third respectively while handicap 6 Victor Maiyo won the 2019 Kenya Red Cross Humanity Cup with 39 points at the same venue on Saturday.

At Sigona on Saturday, handicap 7 Sayyam Shah carded an excellent 40 points to emerge the overall winner of the Kenya Sweet golf tournament.