Mutahi Kibugu leads Kenyan charge with three under after first day of Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship at Muthaiga Club
Kenyan players posted mixed results on the first day of this year’s Magical Kenya Open Golf Championships that teed off at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club.
Home player Mutahi Kibugu was the best placed Kenyan after the 18-holes, managing a three under par 68 score. Kibugu who will be hoping to emulate his younger brother Njoroge Kibugu who was the only Kenyan to make the cut last year, sunk two birdies on the par three second hole and the long par five hole four for a first nine score of 34. In the second nine he started brightly with a birdie on the par five ninth hole, before dropping two back-to-back shots on the par three 11th and par four 12th. He recovered with a birdie on the par four 14, but played another bogey on the par four 15th before picking two back-to-back shots on the par three 16th and par four 17th. Speaking to People Sport after finishing his round, Kibugu was happy with his putting and drives and looked forward to a more competitive afternoon today when he tees off at 12.40 pm.
“Starting at back nine helped a lot. Unfortunately, I was a bit bruised in the second nine with back-to-back bogies in holes 11 and 12 but overall, the recovery was great given how I started,” Kibugu said.
He added: “I had some good leaps out there and my drive worked great with my fairway hitting at the tees clocking anything between 330-350 yards which was good. I liked the course and playing in it was okay because I picked a couple of birdies. Friday will be the ultimate test, but I am ready and given how I am playing, I feel confident.”
Greg Snow closed the day at level par 71 and has a chance to progress today if he manages an under score to be sure of making the cut. He had a birdie in holes 2,9,10 and 18 but was hampered by bogeys in holes 6,11,13 and 15.
Dismas Indiza also finished on Par 71 in Day One with a staggering five bogeys not helping his cause. He hit level par in seven holes and had birdies in holes 2,11,12,17 and 18. His striking and putting were not up to scratch and at certain moments he looked frustrated on the course. The veteran player had four level par in the opening five holes before getting the calm effect for a short while.
