Impressive Michael Karanga moved a step up the leaderboard in the second and penultimate round of the ongoing Egypt Amateur Open Championships at the par 72 El Gouna Golf Club in Cairo, Egypt on Monday evening.

The Kiambu golfer fired a total of two under par 70 to finish Round Two joint second with Swiss Marc Steinhauser, who led Round One with one under par 143 ahead of Tuesday’s final round.

Swiss international Jean Leon Aeshlimann, who fired four under par 68,  has taken the lead with his two under 142.

The Kenya Amateur Golf Championships Series leader moved from third position in Round One to joint second.

In Round Two, he managed four birdies in holes two, three, four, and eight, parred in the fifth, sixth, and ninth after starting on a bad note.

He dropped two shots in one for a level par 36 while the leader Leon had an albatross in fourth; birdies in two and nine, with pars in one, three, five, six, and eight holes.

In their return, Karanga had three birdies in 10, 12, and 13 while Leon managed one one birdie in 17th.

The Kenyan fired five pars in the 11th, 14th,m 15th, 16th, and 17th with a bogey in the 18th while his leader had all par except a birdie in the 18th for -2 and level 33 and 35 respectively.

The best Kenyan golfer, now ranked 89th in the world, also won the Kenya Amateur Strokeplay and Kenya Matchplay titles.

Leader board

1. Jean Leon Aeshlimann (SWI) 74, 68= 142

T2. Michael Karanga (KEN) 73, 70= 143

T2. Marc Steinhauser (SWI) 72, 71= 143

T4. Keagan Crosbie (RSA) 80, 65=145

T4. Issa Abou El Ela (EGY) 74, 71= 145

T4. Sinan Mehli (MAR) 73, 72= 145

T7. Jordan Wessels (RSA) 75, 72= 147

T7. Youssef El Hali (MAR) 73, 74= 147

T7. Abderhamane Fakori (MAR) 72, 75= 147

T10. Johnre Ludick (RSA) 77, 71= 148

T10. Vuyisani Makama (RSA) 75, 73= 148