Bogey-free Kibugu takes day two lead in Naivasha

Muthaiga’s Njoroge Kibugu produced a bogey-free round of three under par 68, to jump to the top of the leaderboard half way through the Sunshine Development Tour Qualifying School tournament at the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort in Naivasha on Tuesday.

Kibugu, made it so simple, firing eight pars and one birdie at the front nine. He then picked up two back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th to complete a two rounds total of three under par 139, taking a one shot lead from day one leader John Lejirmah.

“I can't complain about today’s round. I hit the ball the way I wanted to hit it and placed it where I wanted. All round, I am proud of how I played today. It tells me I am consistent.

I hit plenty of fairways and enough greens to make enough pars. I gave myself chances to make birdies on the front nine, they just didn't drop. I am quite surprised I got more birdies in the back nine.” 

The leading amateur Lejirmah blamed the day’s poor finish on lack of concentration after being distracted by a caddie “who kept on criss-crossing each time I tried to take a shot.”

“Coming in today, my goal was to keep the momentum going, unfortunately I ran into some hiccups, especially in the second nine, where I dropped shots at 17 and 18. First nine went well, but it couldn't stick.”

“I just lost focus in the last two holes where I dropped crucial shots, but not to worry, I will work my way back to the top hopefully tomorrow’’.

Lejirmah had started well in the opening nine where he picked up eight pars, closed with a birdie then came the bogey at the 10th.

“I managed to overcome the bogey at the 10th by rolling in a birdie at the 11th and 14th. I however dropped a shot at the par three-15th then at the last two holes, a caddie distracted me each time I tried to take a shot, it just made me lose focus’’ said Lejirmah, who finished the day one over par 72 and a two rounds total of two under par 140.

On the other hand, Greg Snow shot one over par 72 for one under par 141 having bogeyed three holes at the front nine and one at the back nine’s 18th.

Birdies however proved very elusive for the Muthaiga-based Snow. He birdied the fourth at the front nine and at the 11th and 12th holes.

“I had a very slow start. It's frustrating, really but I'm still in the tournament.” 

A poor start saw another leading amateur Michael Karanga drop to eighth place after three double bogeys and two single bogeys.

Fourteen amateurs made the cut and will now battle for the top 10. They included Kenya Amateur Stroke Play champion William Odek from Nyali, and two lady golfers Joyce Wanjiru and Kellie Gachaga.

The Q-School tournament will culminate in the awarding of invitations to the Sunshine Tour Final Stage Qualifier in Johannesburg, South Africa, to the top 10 finishers, as well as a Sh1 million prize purse for the top 50 finishers, with the overall winner banking Sh180,220.