Dennis Saikwa took the overnight one shot lead at the Karen Challenge Trophy on Saturday before Sunday’s final day.
Coming from Royal Nairobi Club, Saikwa has a narrow lead in the 54 hole show on the par 71 Karen Golf course.
In less than a week after featuring in the national team that won the 13th title of East Africa Golf Challenge at Dar Es Salaam’s Gymkhana golf club in Tanzania, Saikwa led his national team mate Samuel Njoroge from Kenya Railway golf club.
He birdied par five-second, eagled the third then bogeyed the two short holes at the front nine. He however started the back nine well firing in a birdie at the downhill par four-10th only to drop a shot at the 11th and mid-way the ninth (14th) with only a birdie consolation coming at the 17th to level the nine.
Njoroge on the other made birdies at the first, seventh and ninth with a bogey at the fourth. His worse in the first round was however a seven at the par four sixth. He however made a good recovery at the back nine where he parred all the way from the 10th to the 17th, finished off the back nine with a birdie at the 18th to level the course.
George Felix was breathing fire behind on one over par 73. Then there was a bunch of five players on three over par 75. They included national team captain Alfred Nandwa, Edwin Mudanyi, Mike Kisia, and Reuben Njoroge.
Finishing a shot behind the five was youngster Agil Is- Haq on four over par 76, and still with a chance to climb to the top of the leaderboard.
It was a slow start for defending champion John Karichu who shot six over par 78 along with three others namely Robinson Owiti of Vet Lab, and Muthaiga’s Zubar Khan and Evans Vitisia.