Team Kenya captain John Lejirma tiptoed Elvis Muigua to the summit of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championships (KAGC) series following his victory at the Ruiru Open at the par 73 Ruiru golf club on Sunday.
The Kenya Railways player fired 13 under par 206 for the title, his third of the series after winning the Trans Nzoia Open in Kitale and Ronald Marshall and Toby Gibson in Njoro.
He has 383.3 points to better Muigua’s 346.1. Muigua, who failed to make the cut in Ruiru, remains second ahead of reigning KAGC champion and clubmate, Michael Karanga, who has 194.1 points.
At Ruiru, Lejirma led from the first to the last day and became the only player to hit below par.
Lejirma had intense preparations heading for the tournament.
“This did not come easily,” he said. “I want to reclaim the title I last won in 2022.”
He fired four under par 69 on Friday to take the overnight lead, followed by his cousin, Raphael Leming’ani.
He fired level par 36 with birdies in the second and ninth pars five, a bogey in the fourth and eighth with pars. He returned -4 33 in the second nine, with pars on the 11th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th, a par in the 10th, 12th and 15th before dropping a shot in the 17th.
He fired an eagle, three birdies, dropped a shot and all pars for another four under par 69 on Saturday.
On Sunday, he rolled in five under par 68. In the outward nine, he sunk three bogeys two pars and four birdies but hit an eagle in the 14th, birdies in the 11th, 12th and 13th and a bogey in 10 with rest pars in the second nine.
Ugandan Andrew Ssekibejja fired level par 219 for second while Leming’ani was third in 223.
Ruiru leaderboard
1. John Lejirma (Kenya Railways) 69,69, 68= 206
2. Andrew Ssekibejja (UGA) 73, 72, 74= 219
3. Raphael Leming’ani (Ruiru) 72, 76, 75=223
4. Ebill Omollo (Vetlab) 72, 79, 75= 226
T5. Eugene Wafula (Muthaiga) 79, 77, 71= 227
T5. Joseph Kasozi (UGA) 74, 73, 80= 227
7. Serah Khanyereri (Royal) 74, 79, 75= 228
T8. Joyce Wanjiru (Kiambu) 80, 76, 74= 230
T8. Isaac Makokha (Vetlab) 79, 75, 76= 230
T8. Steve Kiaro (Kiambu) 78, 78, 74= 230
T8. John Kamais (Nakuru) 76, 77, 77= 230
T8. Carl wambasi (Vetlab) 75, 76, 79= 230