Muthaiga golfer Taimur Malik took overnight lead in Round One of Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championships, the Kenya Amateur Golf Championships (KAGC) series at the par 72 Karen Golf Club.
Malik, the Mount Kenya Championships winner in Nyeri last month, fired a total of four under par 78 to take the lead ahead of Friday’s second round of a championship scheduled to end on Sunday.
He started off with back-to-back birdies in 1, 2 and 3, fired another birdie in the 8th, 10th and 17th with pars in 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18 after dropping a shot in the 14th to take a two-shot lead against Ugandan Godfrey Nsubuga, who managed two under par 70.
The Kiambu pair of Michael Karanga and Elvis Muigua are joint third with Vet Lab’s Isaac Makokha on one under par 71.
The winner of the Strokeplay will earn an automatic ticket to the Magical Kenya Open (MKO) Golf championships come next year.
Series leader Karanga became the first amateur to make the cut into the MKO following his victory at the Kenya Amateur Matchplay last month, edging out Vet Lab’s Ebill Omollo 5-2 in the finals played at Great Rift Valley Golf Club.
Defending champion John Lejirma completed Round One at eighth place, tied with Raphael Leming’ani from Ruiru and Muthaiga’s Bhavnish Chandaria with one over par 73.
The over 110 golfers will be trimmed after Round Two on Friday evening ahead.
