Harding claims second European Tour win in Kenya
South African Justin Harding fired a final round 5-under-par 66 to win the European Tour’s Kenya Open by two shots at 21-under-par over American Kurt Kitayama at the Karen Country Club in Nairobi.
It was the 35-year-old’s second European Tour title, after winning the 2019 Qatar Masters.
Justin Harding (Credit: European Tour)
“It was hard work. I was happy with the way I played,” said Harding.
“I’m glad I shot one better than a couple of years ago, I was bummed about that, but I’m just happy with the way I managed my game. I made a mess of 11 and 12 and ultimately the way I played 13 through 18 this week, it was a bit of a stressful time.”
In 2018 Harding had a solid run of results that saw him win two Sunshine Tour and two Asian Tour titles and at the 2019 Masters he finished a respectable 12th place in his first appearance.
WITB: Justin Harding
- Titleist Pro V1 Golf Ball
- Titleist TSi3 Driver (9º)
- Titleist TS2 3W (13.5º)
- Titleist TS2 5W (18º)
- Titleist U500 (4), Titleist 620 MB (5-PW)
- Titleist Vokey Design Wedgeworks (50º, 54º)
- Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (58º)
- Odyssey V-Line Putter
Coming into this week’s tournament he had struggled with some form having not recorded a top-10 since September 2020.
Harding’s win moved him up 74 places to be 121st in the world rankings.
“Ultimately I just hope that I can kick on and, I mean, it would be nice if I could go on a run like I did in 2018/19, but who knows, maybe I don’t. We’ve just got to keep giving ourselves some chances.”
Scott Hend was the best of the Australians finishing in a tie for 16th position at 12-under-par, with Maverick Antcliff missing the weekend.
This week, the European Tour remains at Karen Country Club for the Kenya Savannah Classic.
