Michael Karanga has become the first Kenyan amateur golfer to break into the top 100 amateurs across the world.
The World Amateur Rankings released on Thursday evening show put the Kiambu golfer at position 95 despite failing to make the cut at the World Amateur Championships played in Manchester two months ago.
This 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.
Only 150 ranked golfers competed at the five-day championships played at the Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale golf clubs between June 19 and 24.
The Kenya Amateur Golf Championships (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 the Kenya Amateur Matchplay two weeks ago at the Great Rift Valley in Naivasha, Nakuru County after edging out Vetlab’s Ebill Omollo 5-2 at the final of the four-day championships.
A statement from Kenya Golf Union chairman Philip Ochola said: “The Kenya Golf Union Congratulates Michael Karanga, the first Kenyan to achieve an impressive 95th ranking in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. His dedication and talent shine brightly insuring us all."
In the KAGC series, Karanga has won 11 out of the 20 events played so far in the 25-meeting series. He has amassed 750 points.
