Sandhu banking on shot game in upcoming Open

Kenya Amateur Stroke play champion Jay Sandhu is working on his iron play ahead of the final Safari Tour leg set for February 20 to 24 at the Karen Country Club.  

Sandhu believes that a mastery of his iron play, which has proved to be his weakness in carding low scores, will help him play well in the final Tour and into the March 18 to 21 Magical Kenya Open. 

The 39-year old who is playing in the Safari Tour as part of his Open preparations, shot three under par 68, to lead the field of 64 players into the second round of the Safari Tour series eighth leg at Muthaiga Golf Club. 

He, however, lost his mojo in the second round at Muthaiga to return a score of eight over par 79 but still managed to make cut thanks to his first round score. He lowered his score to six over par 77 in the third round and played a good final round for two over par 73 and 13 over par 297 total. 

"My shot game remains my biggest asset but I need to work on my iron game. If I get my approach shots right then I will have an easier time with my putting and that way I end up lowering my scores. At Muthaiga, my irons let me down in the second round. I was not hitting any greens and the more I tried to play better I kept making mistakes especially in the last five holes of the back nine. I even ended up with a triple bogey in one of the holes," expressed Sandhu. 

He continued, "I was, however, impressed with my final round and at the moment I am practising more on hitting better at my home course at Royal Nairobi. I have played at Karen once this year but since the course is still being worked on in preparation for the Safari Tour and the main events, I am playing more at home," explained Sandhu adding that he expects a good round at Karen. 

The Royal Nairobi elite amateur booked his ticket to the Kenya Open and subsequently the newly introduced Savannah Classic after emerging the winner at last year's Strokeplay championship held at his backyard in October.