Wakhu plays five under par to lead Kenyan players at the Savannah Classic

Golf Park’s David Wakhu started his round at the European Tour’s Savannah Classic on a high, carding five under par 66 and finish as the best-placed Kenyan on the course. He closed the day tied 12th. 

Wakhu is evidently making amends for the Magical Kenya Open where he had a slow start and his impressive four under par 67 round on the second day was not enough to salvage his game as he missed cut.

Teeing off at the par-four first hole, he parred the first two, dropped a shot at the par-four third but picked a birdie at the par five sixth yo level the front nine at 35 out. He had a better back nine, playing a bogey-free nine holes with three birdies and an eagle at the par-five 11th for 31 in and a total round of five under par 66. 

He broke his own record of the lowest score set by a Kenyan at a European Tour event at Karen, which he set last week in the second round of the Open when he played four under par 67. 

"I must say that I had fun today, having the privilege of playing with José-Filipe Lima for the second time. The first time we played was some years back on the Challenge Tour and I remember I was excited because at the time he was one of the leading professionals coming over to play. So I was just really looking forward to hanging out with him and to just enjoy the round, and I’m so happy that the group has really encouraged me, from the caddies and the players themselves. I am very thankful and humbled,"

That front nine was the one I was thinking about since the Magical Kenya Open last week. On the first round, I played that nine in four over par, the second time I played I just thought I have to go for it. So we had a better game plan the second time around and I shot minus six then. On the back nine, I started laying up and it really hurt me. So I thought, I must now take my medicine and that is what has made a difference today. It is a great opportunity for me, and I am very humbled to take the invitation here. I just want to enjoy myself, have fun with my caddie and the guys I am playing with, and also just to know that I’m representing my country. So I’m just going to do everything I can this week," said Wakhu in a post-round interview. 

Meanwhile, Railways golf club's Samuel Njoroge, who was the only Kenyan to make the cut at last week's Magical Kenya Open leveled the course. 

Starting the day at the par-four tenth, Njoroge had a good start, picking a birdie but lost his advantage in the next hole as he dropped a shot at the par-five eleventh, parred the 12th hole and dropped another shot at the par four 13th for 37 in. 

He picked a birdie at the par-five sixth, bogeyed the par four eight but picked a birdie in his final hole, par-four ninth to level the course and put himself in a good place to make cut again. 

"It was a good score for me because the course is playing tough today. The wind and the greens are rolling very fast so a level par score is a good one for me to start the Savannah Classic. The ninth is an easy hole, it’s a driveable par four where you can score an eagle there if you drive it well. Today I’ve minimized my mistakes, I had three bogeys and three birdies which I am very happy about. The strategy today is to make the cut first, maybe minus three or four to make the cut," said Njoroge.