Kiambu golfer Michael Karanga has improved on his World Amateur Rankings position once more.
The Kenya Amateur Golf Championships (KAGC) series leader with 1278 points has moved from position 95 within a week to 89 following the release on Wednesday.
The unmatched Karanga, who has taken impressive points, is followed by Kenya Railways player John Lejirma with 489 points with Ugandan Godfrey Nsubuga completing top three with 361 points.
Despite playing fewer meetings across the country (12) against Lejirma’s 16 and Nsubuga 16, Karanga went ahead to win both the Kenya Amateur Strokeplay and Kenya Amateur Matchplay to earn automatic qualifications for next year’s MKO.
Last week on Thursday, Karanga was at position 95th despite failing to make the cut at the World Amateur Championships played in Manchester two months ago.
The six position improvement is according to his top level performance in the KAGC series, which was a tremendous upward approach for Karanga who was the only Kenyan to play at the World Amateurs when he was ranked 138 hence qualifying to play at the world championships.
In June, top ranked 150 amateur in the world faced off at the five-day championships, World Amateurs played at the Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale golf clubs between June 19 and 24.
The KAGC series leader also anchored Team Kenya to retain the Africa Region four title in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in June.
In Ethiopia, Karanga teamed up with captain Dennis Maara of Limuru, KAGC champion John Lejirma of Kenya Railways and youngster Elvis Muigua of Kiambu, who consolidated (+12) 864 to retain the Region Four title last weekend to edge out rivals Uganda for the second time.
Apart from being the leader, Karanga has already qualified for the 2024 Magical Kenya Open after winning both Kenya Amateur Matchplay and Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Great Rift Valley in Naivasha, Nakuru County after edging out Vetlab’s Ebill Omollo 5-2 at the final of the four-day championships and Karen golf club respectively.
Recent Karanga wins this season
Sigona Bowl, Windsor Classic, Muthaiga Open, Railway Invitation, Coronation Trophy, Limuru Open, Coast Open (Barry Cup), Kenya Amateur Matchplay, Malindi Open (Vasco da Gama) and Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championships.
Table standings after last weekend’s Kenya Amateur Strokeplay championships
1. Michael Karanga (12) 1278
2. John Lejirma (16) 489
3. Godfrey Nsubuga (12) 361
4. Elvis Muigua (16) 348
5. Dennis Maara (12) 312
6. Ebill Omollo (16) 296
7. Taimur Malik (5) 247
8. Josphat Rono (15) 244