L. MathekaKenya Open: Balala ups preps in Abu Dhabi
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 14.12.21. | 17:01
The golfer, alongside John Lejirma booked their tickets to the Open with wins in the amateur Stroke and Matchplay championships.
Nyali Golf and Country Club's elite amateur golfer Adel Balala is in action at the three-day Abu Dhabi Amateur Golf Championship that teed off at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on 13 December with a practice round.
The golfer flew out immediately after lifting the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) title ahead of Kiambu’s Michael Karanga and John Lejirma. Balala accumulated 813 points from the 22 events of the season.
In the final leg hosted by his home club, he carded 205 after three rounds ahead of Lejirma who finished second on 215, a stroke ahead of Karanga. Heading into the final leg, Balala led the standings at 694.6 points having won five of the 22 events, with Karanga 26.6 points adrift in second place. Lejirma was in third place at 575.
Balala won the Kenya Amateur Stroke-Play in Nakuru while Lejirma won the Match-play title at Muthaiga to book their tickets to the Magical Kenya Open set for March 2022. Karanga, who had amassed the highest number of points overall at 842.6 was hoping to win in Nyali and book his ticket to the European tour event too.
Adel Balala, Kenya's 🇰🇪 top elite amateur golfer is currently participating in the Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship. The winner of this tournament will get an invite to the 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship @DPWorldTour @taufiqbalala #Magicalkenya pic.twitter.com/A7JtXi9NiG
— Charles Gacheru (@CharlesGacheru) December 14, 2021
Preparations for the Magical Kenya Open have seen Balala play in South Africa where he featured in the Central Gauteng Open on 12 to 14 November as well as the Bobby Locke Invitational on 16 to 18 November.
One amateur golfer will line up in the 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, following confirmation from Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC). The spot in the Rolex Series event will go to the winner of the Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship. The 54-hole Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship has enjoyed widespread success over the years.
Day 1 ,Abudhabi amateur championship,Kenya’s Adel Balala tied 2nd after round 1 .well played ,proud of you as always pic.twitter.com/IhyAONqw6M
— Taufiq Balala (@taufiqbalala) December 14, 2021
At Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in 2019, UAE resident Josh Hill secured a thrilling one-shot victory to qualify for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at just 15 years old, making him the youngest ever participant in the event.
This year’s Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship is bigger and better than ever before. Scratch amateurs golfers from all over the world are invited to Abu Dhabi to compete for the title and World Amateur Golf Ranking points.
