Muthaiga golfer in one-shot lead at Churchill Cup

John Gitonga follows the progress of his shot from the 9th hole fairway during Muthaiga District Foursomes Tournament on January 10, 2015 at Muthaiga Golf Club. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Going gets tough for Goty leader Muchangi
  • Gitonga cards two under par 70 to flourish at Thika Club as Nandwa gives chase

Muthaiga Golf Club’s John Gitonga set the ball rolling, firing an impressive two under par 70 for a narrow one-shot lead in this year’s Winston Churchill Cup golf tournament at the par-72 Thika Sports Club course on Saturday.

The birdie-hungry Gitonga rolled in five birdies, including two back-to-back from the first hole but dropped a shot at the sixth hole which he later recovered with two straight birdies at the last two holes.

Gitonga dropped two shots at the 10th and 13th to close the day on 70, taking a one-shot lead into Sunday’s second round ahead of Railway’s Alfred Nandwa who birdied the first hole, eagled the ninth for an outward three under. Nandwa however double-bogeyed the 13th and dropped a shot at the home green (18th) for one under par 71.

“I had five or so under par for the day, but I double-bogeyed the 13th after pitching from 70 yards to the green. I’m not out yet as there is one more round to go tomorrow," said Nandwa.

Another Muthaiga player, Jeff Kubwa, levelled the course to keep pace with the leader as Limuru’s Paul Muchangi and Railway’s Samuel Njoroge were on one over par 73 in the Mount Kenya University-sponsored Golfer of The Year (Goty) event.

Muchangi made five birdies but also dropped six shots, five at the back nine. Njoroge made three birdies but dropped more shots to remain at one over at the close of the round. The going got tough for Goty leader Kenneth Bollo who missed a number of fairways and missed several birdies chances as he tried his newly acquired driver.

Bollo was a shot adrift of his club-mate Kimutai Kimosop who shot three over par 75. The subsidiary for local club members was still in progress by press time.