Hakizimana fails to shine in Kenya Open

Rwanda’s professional golfer Jean Baptiste Hakizimana failed to impress at this year’s Kenya Open Golf Championships whic

Monday, April 02, 2012
Rwanda's Jean Baptiste Hakizimana failed to make the cut. The New Times / File.

Rwanda’s professional golfer Jean Baptiste Hakizimana failed to impress at this year’s Kenya Open Golf Championships which ended yesterday at Nairobi’s Par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club.Hakizimana, who failed to make the cut, played plus 8 (79) and 3 (74) on the first two opening rounds, and the former caddie said, "Things were hard for me here, the greens and the course were so rough for me.”"But I have learnt a lot from this competition and am sure the experience I’ve gained here, will impact my career as a professional golfer. I hope to play better in the next edition,” added Hakizimana.Meanwhile, overnight leader Morten Orum Madsen bounced back from a torrid start to regain a share of the lead in the third round of the Barclays Kenya Open.The young Dane bogeyed the first three holes at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi all with three-putts to slip back, but responded with three consecutive birdies to return to level par and six under par for the tournament.The score was matched by Englishman Gary Lockerbie, who was two under after six holes, and the pair were one shot clear of five players, including local favourite Dismas Indiza, who parred his first six holes.Also on five under were South Africans Shaun Norris and Justin Walters, both one under after six holes, Englishman Seve Benson, level par through six, and Dane Lasse Jansen who was three under for the day at the turn thanks to birdies at the third, sixth and ninth.Phil Archer, who won the Challenge Tour’s last event, the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Classic, was four under, having picked up four shots in his first 12 holes - helped by an eagle at the tenth and he was joined on that score by Spaniard Carl Suneson and Kenyan Brian Njoroge.