• Series leader, Kiambu's Elvis Muigua, shot 219 for third.
• Defending champion Michael Karanga from Kiambu missed the cut.
Image: FILE
Nyali golfer Adel Balala recorded his maiden Kenya Amateur Golf Championships victory at Muthaiga Open on Sunday afternoon.
He beat Muthaiga’s Neer Chandaria in a Sudden Death Play-off in the 18th hole at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club. Balala sunk a par while Neer had a bogey.
The two tied on five over par 218 at the end of the three-day 54-hole tournament, the fourth round of the KAGC series.
In the third and final round, Balala fired two over par 73, adding on his one over par 72 and two over par 73 in rounds one and two respectively.
Series leader, Kiambu's Elvis Muigua, shot 219 for third.
Balala started the final day on the wrong footing, dropping two shots in one, par five, followed by a par. He had a birdie in the third, parred in the fourth, dropped a shot in the fifth, parred in the sixth and seventh and concluded the opening nine with birdies in the eighth and ninth holes for level par 36.
He started the back nine with pars in the 10th and 11th and dropped two in both the 12th and the 14th with a birdie in between.
Another birdie in the 18th was followed with pars in the 15th, the 16th and the 17th for +2, 37 and a total of two over 73.
Home player Chandaria dropped two in one, parred in second and third, birdied in the fourth and the eighth, a bogey in the ninth and pars in the rest of the holes for one over par 36 in the first nine.
He had birdie in 18th, a double bogey in the 10th and a bogey in the 15th, coupled with pars in the rest for a total of three over par 74 to add on his two over 73 and level 71 in rounds one and two respectively.
Defending champion Michael Karanga from Kiambu missed the cut.
Karanga, the KAGC champion, rolled in +14 156 (75 and 81) in his two opening rounds.
Top ten finishers
Adel Balala (Nyali) 72, 73, 73= 218
Neer Chandaria (Muthaiga) 73, 71, 74= 218
Elvis Muigua (Kiambu) 75, 72, 72= 219
Dennis Maara (Limuru) 72, 75, 73=220
T5. John Lejirma (Kenya Railways) 75, 76, 72= 223
T5. Felix Dusabe (Kigali-RWA) 75, 75, 73= 223
T5. Josphat Rono (Golf Park) 73, 76, 74= 223
Sammy Mulama (Mombasa) 72, 75, 77= 224
T9. Isaac Makokha (Vet Lab) 78, 72, 75= 225
T9. Joyce Wanjiru (Kiambu) 79, 70, 76= 225
T9. James Kamenchu (Royal) 75, 77, 73= 225