Lejirmah stays ahead at Sunshine Tour second leg

Kenya’s leading amateur golfer John Lejirmah Tuesday maintained his position at the top of the leader board heading into Wednesday’s third and final round of the Sunshine Development Tour East Africa Swing second leg at the par-72 Ruiru Sports Club course.

Playing alongside lady golfer Naomi Wafula and Uganda’s top professional Ronald Rugumayo, Lejirmah dropped his only shot of the day at the par-four eighth. After pushing his driver left, he chipped from off the green and narrowly missed a par putt.

Despite missing multiple birdie chances in the first seven holes, Lejirmah picked up his first birdie of the round at the ninth, which saw him make the turn at six under par.

He then capitalised on the back nine, sinking birdies at the 10th, 13th, and 18th for a three-under-par 69 and a two-round total of nine under par 135. That score gave him a commanding five-shot lead over senior pro Dismas Indiza.

“I am happy to be in this position going into the final round. I kept things tidy today by sticking to the game plan and I didn’t try to force anything. I was solid off the tee and made key putts when I needed to do so. The course, on the other hand, played well and I am looking forward to a strong finish tomorrow,’’ said Lejirmah.

Kakamega-based Indiza climbed to second place after posting a 69. He played a steady back nine with eight pars and a birdie, then started the front nine—his finishing nine—with back-to-back birdies.

He dropped a shot at the par-four fourth after missing a close putt but closed with a birdie at the par-five ninth to reach four under par 140.

“Today was a good day for me. I was able to strike the ball well as has been the case since Monday, minimising mistakes, and tomorrow is about staying patient and sharp and try to give it a final push,’’ said Indiza.

Earlier, Kenya’s Samuel Njoroge and Tanzania’s Nuru Mollel both shot rounds of 69 and 70, respectively, to tie for third place at three under par 141.

Just a shot behind in fifth place was Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club’s Njoroge Kibugu, who carded his second consecutive 71 to sit at two under par 142.

Kibugu, who won the opening leg at Thika Greens Golf Resort last week, was not short of birdies—rolling in seven—but a triple bogey seven at the par-four fourth and three additional bogeys hurt his chances of challenging for the lead. However, he remains within reach of a top-three finish.

Of the six ladies who entered the tournament, only Naom Wafula of Vipingo Ridge survived the six-over-par second-round cut.

She followed up her opening 73 with another one-over-par 73 to tie for ninth place on two over par 146 alongside Jastas Madoya, John Wangai, Eric Ooko, and Uganda’s Abraham Ainamani.

Besides Lejirmah and Wafula, three other amateurs made the second-round cut: Elvis Muigua and Michael Karanga of Ndumberi, and Daniel Kitagu of Muthaiga.