Tough day for Kenyans: Locals find it tough at Kenya Open as foreigners dominate

Mediratta and Charania impress as Germany’s Schmitt leads after Day 2.

Kenya’s Mohit Mediratta braved tough competition from a competitive field to make the cut in the ongoing 2018  Barclays  Kenya Open golf championships at the par 71 Muthaiga course last evening.

The on form Sigona golfer followed up his score of two under par  69 gross in round one on Thursday with a one under par  70 gross last evening for a total round score of three under par 139 gross placing him tied with other foreign golfers in 19th spot.

Another Kenyan projected to make the cut was Windsor’s Riz Charania on a round total of 142 gross, but his  fate was still hanging in the balance as other Kenyans were still struggling at the course.

But 20-year-old old German Maxx Schmitt  made  his automatic  qualification  after  coming from behind  to claim  the lead at the end of Day 2 yesterday.

He  played an impressive seven birdies for  67  gross and  an initial six under par 65 gross  in the first round for a  round total of a ten  under  par  132 gross.

Schmitt’s lead came after adding ten level pars to recover from a bogey shot at the par fifth-tenth hole. “The course  is quite  tough but I am extremely  happy. Now let’s  wait  and see  how it comes  out in the  next  two rounds but  I am prepared,” Smichitt said.

Norway’s Kristian Johannessen is placed second on an overall score of 8-under par 134 gross, one stroke ahead of former Champion Sebastian Solderberg from Sweden.

The golfers were  competing to survive a  cut to under  60 golfers from 156  and proceed  to  third  and fourth  round  today and tomorrow.

Italian’s  Gagli Loenze  and  Englishman  Max Orrin shared  the  fourth  lead  on  136 gross  each and will  also be  among  the golfers competing for the lion’s share of  Sh62.5m prize kitty.

An extra prize of a top-of-the-range Mercedes Sports Benz GLC 250 Coupe, valued at approximately Sh11 million is also on offer for any golfer who sinks hole-in-one at the par four- thirteenth hole.

The overall winner will be dressed with a special jacket inspired by the modern Maasai warrior and designed by Kenyan designer Nick Ondu.

The event is the fiercest golf contests in the Kenyan capital.