Nyali’s Adel Balala keeps Kabete Open crown
Adel Balala follows the progress of his tee shot during the third round of the Karen Challenge at par 72 Karen Country Club course on August 21, 2022.
What you need to know:
- On the other hand, Lejirmah birdied the fifth, sixth and seventh, but picked up a double bogey at the 10th and three single bogeys at the 13th, 16th and 17th though a 15-footer birdie at the 18th assured him of a second place atleast, with a 54-hole total of 223 gross.
Nyali Golf and Country Club’s Adel Balala beat his fellow national team player John Lejirmah of Kenya Railway Golf by three shots to retain the Kabete Open Golf title at the par 72 Vet Lab Sports Club on Sunday.
Balala, who is also the national Amateur Stroke Play champion, posted a three rounds total of 220 gross despite a poor 78 in the second round to become the second player to win the title back- to-back. Royal Nairobi’s Kenneth Bollo won the title in 2015 and successfully defended it in 2016.
“My game was not so bad this weekend though I had a rather poor score in the second round. But I was able to remain cool and managed to sink a number of birdies particularly at the front nine. This is a good build up for the forthcoming All Africa Team Golf Championship and next month’s national Amateur Stroke Play at Vipingo where I also intend to defend my title," said Balala.
He birdied the first two holes in yesterday’s round, dropped a shot at the third, but birdied the fifth, seventh and ninth for a low four under par 32.
At the back nine, Balala made an awful double at the par four-13th, after making a birdie at the 11th, then he three-putted the 18th after a superb driver, for a closing two under par 70.
On the other hand, Lejirmah birdied the fifth, sixth and seventh, but picked up a double bogey at the 10th and three single bogeys at the 13th, 16th and 17th though a 15-footer birdie at the 18th assured him of a second place atleast, with a 54-hole total of 223 gross.
