KILIFI, Kenya, Feb 4 – India’s Aditi Ashok has extended her lead at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open to build a six-stroke lead over Thailand’s April Angurasaranee at the penultimate stage of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open.
Ashok fired 4 under par 69 for the day and went into the last round on Sunday with a comfortable lead.
The top-ranked two-times Olympian made 4 birdies at the Par-73 Baobab Vipingo course -three front nine and one in the back nine.
Ashok drove the ball better in round three, which put her in a better position to go for her maiden win in Kenya
“We will try to take it easy and set small goals. I already have a commanding lead but let’s see how it goes. It’s not over until it’s over,” said Ashok.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s leading player Naomi Wafula has sung the praises of her sixteen-year-old compatriot Chanelle Wangari who debuted the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in Vipingo.
Chanelle wasn’t able to secure her maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) cut on Thursday, but was able to showcase amazing talent before missing the cup in round two.
Wafula extolled Chanelle describing her as a prominent figure in the sport’s junior ranks.
“Channel is a great player and I can say that she is going far. She is simply amazing. She has an amazing personality and she can play really well. This is just a start and this is just her first LET event. She is going to make cuts in the future and I am happy for her.” Wafula said.
Wafula was followed on the course by Chanelle and another junior Kanana Muthomi and Sports PS Jonathan Mueke.
Wafula posted a 78 for a three-day total of 14 over par 233. The Kenyan top golfer made the historic cut on Thursday with two-day total of 9-over par 155. She is currently tied for 55 with French lady Lucie Malchirand.
“It was a good round today except for two holes which let me down; but I fought on. On hole number three, I was about to go to the hazard, I got away with it. So I had a pretty clear shot to the green. But I kind of faded it all the way right. I didn’t have a way to the green so I ended up with a triple.” Wafula expounded, adding: “I am so grateful to all the Kenyans watching me and hoisting the Kenyan flag and those watching me on TV>”
Wafula had a really long T shot on hole 10 and here is what she had to say: “My T Shot was so good but my second shot was sitting on a slope. And I wasn’t really planning to go for the pin as my stance wasn’t so good.
I came up with my driver on number 11 and pushed it right so I was in the hazard. Then I took a penalty and ended up with a double bogey.”
DAY 3 LEADERBOARD
-13 Aditi Ashok ( (IND) 67, 70,69=206
-7 April Angurasaranee (THA) 71,71, 70=212
-4 Cara Gainer (ENG) 74, 70,71= 215
-3 Gabriela Ruffels (AUS) 74,71,71= 216
-2 Alice Hewson (ENG) 71,73,73= 217
