-While top placed Kenya colleagues Wangai and Ooko in hot pursuit against leader Nsazuwera of Rwanda.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS.
Kenya’s Naomi Wafula lit up the second round of the SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship with a spectacular hole-in-one on the par-3 second hole at Kigali Golf Resort & Villas in Rwanda on Thursday.
The shot, coupled with steady play across the round, helped her post a brilliant 4-under-par 68 gross, bringing her tournament total to 1-over-par 145 gross and secured her place among the top 30 players who made the cut to the final round.
“Today was a great round. I came in with the mentality to just enjoy myself and not put too much pressure. On hole two, I hit my iron, but from the tee I thought it was short. Since the green is uphill, we couldn’t see where it landed. When we got up there, I thought the ball had rolled over the slope, but one of the caddies said a ball had dropped in. When we checked, it was mine, it was a hole-in-one! I was super happy, but my caddie calmed me down and reminded me that I still had a lot of golf to play. That confidence carried me through the round, “said Wafula.
At the top of the leaderboard, Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera delighted the home crowd with a sensational performance.
Using his knowledge of the course to his advantage, Nsanzuwera fired nine birdies and an eagle to a stunning 9-under-par 63 gross, extending his overall lead to 13-under-par 131 gross after two rounds.
“It was an amazing round today. Unlike yesterday, I didn’t feel much pressure, and that helped me stay calm. Starting with back-to-back birdies and then an eagle on the third gave me so much confidence. I told myself to just keep going up and up. I had 23 putts all round and hit every fairway. Being my home course, I used that knowledge to my advantage. On the final round the plan is the same, play the fairways, trust my putts, and stay focused, “said Nsanzuwera.
A seven-shot gap separates Nsanzuwera from his nearest challengers for a tied for second on 6-under-par 138 gross for South Africa’s Travis Procter and two-time DP World Tour winner Haydn Porteous.
Procter carded a composed 3-under-par 69, with birdies on 1, 11, 13, and 17.
He said, “I hit the ball much like yesterday, really solid. The back nine was a bit of a struggle with the putter going cold, but overall I’m happy. To be at six-under feels like the worst I could be playing this well. Tomorrow, I’ll go out looking for a better score.”
Porteous matched Procter with a 3-under-par 69 gross of his own, thanks to birdies on 4, 6, and 13.
Kenya’s Charles J. Wangai was the top-ranked Kenyan on moving day sharing the same slot with the South Africans after recording a total score of 138 gross followed by country mate Eric Ooko on 139 gross.
Other Kenyans who made the cut include John Wangai, Jastas Madoya, Dismas Indiza, Mutahi Kibugu, Samuel Njoroge, Michael Karanga, John Lejirma, David Wakhu, Ken Abuto, Greg Snow, Daniel Nduva, Mohit Mediratta, Jacob Okello, and Njoroge Kibugu.
The cut was set at 3-over-par 147 gross, narrowing the field to 30 golfers to compete in the decisive final round for a share of the USD 25,000 prize purse, along with crucial Sunshine Development Tour points, Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
The SportsBiz Africa Golf Championship is sponsored by SportsBiz Africa, East African Breweries through its Johnnie Walker brand, Kigali Golf Resort & Villas, and Pure Travel.
TOP TEN LEADERS AND TIES-DAY TWO (THURSDAY).
Celestin Nsanzuwera-68 -63-131 gross, Travis Procter-69-69-138 gross, Haydn Porteous-69-69-138 gross, CJ Wangai-69-69-138 gross, Erick Ooko Obura-69-70-139 gross, Promise Sombreiro-72-68-140 gross,
Adam Breen-71-69-140 gross, Gaita Tadeo Rodell-71-69-140 gross, Ronald Rugumayo-70-70-140 gross, Ndayisenga Ernest-70-71-141 gross.
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