DIsmas Indiza one shot behind leader in the Kenya Open

Hard greens and unexpected winds on Friday made scoring difficult for the afternoon field on round two of the Barclays Kenya Open championships.

Tournament leader, Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen was given a chase by Kenya’s Dismas Indiza who finished one shot behind on 5-under par.

Madsen’s first round of 64 was followed by a one-over par 72 dropping him back to 6-under. Indiza meanwhile made sure of a late tee-start paired with the Dane, signing for a comfortable 70 to narrow the gap.

Madsen has a point to prove this week. He was runner-up in the last Challenge Tour event in Columbia and a win this week will take him to the top of the Tour rankings. He is currently in fourth place.

But the crowds will be out in North Nairobi, to support the six Kenyan pros who made the cut, thereby guaranteeing earnings.

The day’s best round belonged to PGK rookie, Stefan Engell Andersen. He shot a bogey free 67, four-under par to move from 94th to 19th and make the cut. Engell Andersen, 21, who is playing in the Kenya Open for the first time as a golf professional, is now a member of the European Challenge Tour.His first European tour event was in India in January, and he made the cut.

Brian Njoroge held on to a top ten place with a 70 and is tied 4th on four-under. Njoroge, who was Kenya’s top amateur, has made the cut for the first time at the Kenya Open. He will be in the second group behind Dismas.

The other Kenyans are Muthaiga’s Nicholas Rokoine who has won two PGK events this year, and had to draw on all his local knowledge to make the cut. His second round of 68, after a 4-over on Thursday gives him a chance to advance on the leaderboard.

Anil Shah, a seasoned pro, has re-located from South Africa back to Kenya, is on level par with two consistent rounds of 71 for 142.

Last but not least is Ganiv Giddie. He had a good first round of one-under, and started his second with an eagle 3 on the tenth hole. He turned on 4-under but dropped shots on the difficult first nine to finish 2-over and +1 for the tournament in 41 position.

Giddie, is also making the cut for the first time. With the conditions for the overseas players proving a challenge, it is time for the six Kenyan professionals to make use of their preparation at Muthaiga this past two weeks.

It is indeed possible for a Kenyan to win the Barclays Kenya Open.

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