Sandhu gets KAGC campaign off to flying start

Royal Nairobi's elite amateur golfer Jay Sandhu maintained a steady three rounds of golf across three days to emerge victorious at the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) season-opening Sigona Bowl.

A field of 102 amateur golfers did battle over a 54-hole event, at the par 72 Sigona course, that was celebrating its 63rd anniversary and a good start for Sandhu saw him prevail. 

Teeing off on Friday, Sandhu carded the only under par score of the day at one under par 71 to head to the second round on top of the leaderboard. 

Over the next two rounds, Sandhu carded four over par 76 and and two over par 74 for a combined score of five over par 221. 

"I am elated for the victory as it sets a good precedence for the rest of the season for me. It was a good experience and I am looking forward to more of such performance. I will try my best to play as many KAGC events as work allows but the target is to qualify for next year's Kenya Open," offered Sandhu in an interview with Mozzart Sport. 

Limuru Country Club's Dennis Maara who finished fourth in last year's KAGC series was second one shot behind Sandhu.

Maara had a slow start, returning a score of five over par 77 on the final round but recovered in round two and three to card one over par 73 and par for the 222. 

Railways' John Lejirma who is the 2021 MatchPlay champion, a title that also gave him the ticket to this year’s Magical Kenya Open began his campaign with a third-place finish, tied on points with Maara. 

He carded four over par 76 in the first round to place ninth but an improved two over par 74 and level par scores in round two and three saw him tied second at the end of the three-day action. 

Isaac Makokha and and Daniel Kiragu completed the top five finishers carding a total of 227.