Italian Sensation Migliozzi Is The 2019 Magical Kenya Open Champion

17th March 2019 - by SPN Correspondent

Simon Ngige was the best placed local golfer after playing 2-under par on Sunday for a total of 5-under par 279

Italian Guido Migliozzi kises the Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship trophy after he was crowned champion at the tournament. PHOTO/SPN

SUMMARY

Migliozzi claimed the title at the Karen Golf and Country Club in Nairobi on Sunday after returning a score of 2-under par 69 in round four for a total of 14-under par 268
The Italian started his campaign in the tournament with a score of 4-under par after round one on Thursday, followed it up with a 2-under par score on Friday to successfully make the cut for the weekend
It was at the back nine, where the 22-year-old would prevail, starting off with a birdie in the par-4, 10th and another in the 12th to hold a one shot lead.

NAIROBI, Kenya- Twenty two year old Italian professional golfer, Guido Migliozzi is the 2019 Magical Kenya Open winner.

Migliozzi claimed the title at the Karen Golf and Country Club in Nairobi on Sunday after returning a score of 2-under par 69 in round four for a total of 14-under par 268.

For his efforts over the last four days of the competition, Miglozzi pocketed a total of Euros 183,330 (KSh20.5m).

The Italian started his campaign in the tournament with a score of 4-under par after round one on Thursday, followed it up with a 2-under par score on Friday to successfully make the cut for the weekend.

It was at round three that he turned in style with an impressive 7-under par score to give him a share of the lead going into the final round on Sunday.

Playing in the last group of the day, Migliozzi went toe to toe with fellow day three leader Adri Arnaus as well as Louis De Jager, Justin Harding, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Kalle Samooja, who all had a taste of the lead in the course of a thrilling final day.

The Italian had a shaky start to his round on Sunday, dropping his first shot at the par-3, 4th, following this up with back to back birdies at the 6th and 7th.

He further dropped a shot in the 9th however he recovered to record 35 points in the front nine for a three way tie at the top of the leader board.

President Uhuru Kenyatta presents junior golfer Mutahi Kibugu with a Silver Salver in recognition of the junion's debut at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship.PHOTO/ SPN

It was at the back nine, where the 22-year-old would prevail, starting off with a birdie in the par-4, 10th and another in the 12th to hold a one shot lead.

As the crowd and pressure was building up steadily, Miglozzi went on to show some steady nerves, to hold par in his last six holes to take the title.

He expressed his joy in winning the tournament and relished the feeling of playing in the contest saying: “I enjoyed the last two days very much. The pressure was a lot but I'm happy about the way I mananged it.”

Migliozzi follows in the footsteps of Major Champions Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and Trevor Immelman in winning the championship.

He becomes the second consecutive Italian winner of the tournament after Lorenzo Gagli last year.

Adri Arnaus, alongside South African duo of Justin Harding and Louis De Jager had to settle for joint second, a shot behind Migliozzi, on a score of 15-under par, 269.

India's Bhullar Gaganjeet finished a further shot behind on 14-over for a fifth place finish.

Kenya's Simon Ngige finished as the best placed Kenyan, after playing a round of 2-under par on the day to take his total to 5-under par, 279, to see him tied for 25th, alongside the 2016 winner Sebastian Soderberg.

Justus Madoya, who is also the other Kenyan who made the cut, finished tied for 72nd, with an overall score of 5 over par, 289.

The 2018 winning Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn, was tied for 12th place on an overall score of 8-under par.