Junior player Malik shutters course record to tie with Mediratta, Mudanyi in first leg of Safari Tour Golf Series
Edwin Otieno
Junior golfer Taimur Malik beat home professional Mohit Mediratta in the second hole of a play off, to claim the title in the opening tournament of the 2021/2022 Safari Tour Season Four series at the par 72 Sigona Golf Club course yesterday.
The 17-year-old Malik from Muthaiga Golf Club who was the only amateur player to make the cut after two rounds, shot a course record round of seven under par 65 in the final round to catch-up with Mediratta and Vet Lab Sports Club’s Edwin Mudanyi on four under par total of 284 which saw the three go for a play off.
During the first hole of a play off, Mudanyi missed close putt for a par while Malik and Mediratta parred, to go for the second hole where Malik fired to the centre of the fairways while Mediratta pushed to the right.
He over shot the green and though he chipped back well, he missed the par while Malik made his par, to claim the trophy.
“It feels great winning an event against professionals particularly after playing three over par in reach of the first three rounds.
However I am glad I played well in the final round which gave me a chance to play in the play off.
My game particularly in putting has not been good but I am working on it and I hope to play better in the next event at Vet Lab’’ said Malik who said he was a bit nervous though during the play off, but after the first hole I gained a bit of confidence, and would like to encourage the other juniors to work hard on their game’’said Malik.
During the regulation play Malik made two birdies at the fourth and sixth holes but made a double bogey at the seventh where he hit his driver to the left trees, where he came out to the fairway.
He managed to put his 150 yard long approach shot to the green but made a three putt.
He managed to recover one shot with a birdie at the ninth though it was at the back nine where his putter started producing the magic.
He picked birdies on the 10th, 11th, and then birdied from the 14th to 17th, for brave six under
par 30 at the back nine and the day’s 65. On the other hand Mediratta started off with three bogeys in the first nine where he only made a birdie at the fourth, dropped another shot at the eighth.
He bogeyed three more holes at the back nine where only made one birdie at the 11th, for four over par 76.
He had started with a four shots advantage from Mudanyi who only made three birdies, all in the par fives, to finish on level par 72 for a total of four under par 284.
“It was not a good day putting wise as I missed a number of birdie putts, but I am happy tying for the top prize.
This has given me abit of confidence for the next event at my home course. I will definitely give it my best at Vet Lab’’ said Mudanyi.
While Malik went home with the trophy, the two pros each got Sh255, 172 while Railway’s Samuel Njoroge who was who shot one under par 71 for three under par 285, earned Sh169, 379.
