Kenneth Bollo claims Trans Nzoia Open title

Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Kenneth Bollo, who has been struggling with his game since this year’s season started, celebrated his first national victory after winning the 2017 Trans Nzoia Open championship at Kitale Club at the weekend.

The former Golfer Of The Year (GOTY) champion fired one under par 72 in the third and final round despite bogeying the second hole after losing a ball, for a total of 10 over par, to beat Vet Lab Sports Club’s Edwin Mudanyi by two shots.

“I have not been playing well over the past five or so months because I changed my swing and it took some time for me to get used to my new swing, though its slowly getting there’’ said Bollo.

He shot seven over par 80 in the first round, improved abit with a three over 76 in the second round, which in addition to his one under par 72 in the final round, saw him take the overall title with a total of nine over par 228.

Enroute to his one under, Bollo, bogeyed the second hole after sending his driver to the bush, but birdied the sixth, 10th and 11th and though he dropped a shot at the long par three-13th, one under par was still good enough for his first title of the season in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series.

Mudanyi on the other hand, carded 77, 80 and a level par 73 for 11 over par 230 for a back to back second place finishing. Mudanyi, came second to his club-mate Mike Kisia during the Winston Churchill Cup at Thika 10 days ago.

“My game was good this weekend save for the condition of the course. It was so difficult to stop the ball on the green while the fairways had some awful brown patches. This in addition with the rains made golf rather very difficult this weekend’’ said Mudanyi, who tied for the second place with Thika Sports Club’s G. Gathumbi.

Tying for fourth on 231 were Isaiah Otuke and Jeff Kubwa.

Action in the KAGC series moves to Nakuru Golf Club for the Coronation Cup over the weekend of June 3 and 4.