ADITI OPENS SIX STROKE LEAD HEADING INTO FINAL DAY

India’s Aditi Ashok has opened a six-stroke lead at the top of the 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open leaderboard, heading into the final round on Sunday 5th February 2023 at the PGA Baobab Course, Vipingo Ridge.

Aditi, who has led throughout this tournament, returned a bogey-free score of 4-under par, 69, the best of the round, taking her gross to an impressive 13-under, six ahead of second-placed April Angurasaranee of Thailand.

The leader started her round in steady fashion, holding par through the opening four holes before back-to-back birdies on the par four 5th hole and par five 6th. She hit a further birdie on the 8th to take her score to 2-under par at the turn.

Aditi played cautiously through the back nine, with a single birdie on the 11th, for that 4-under par score.

Speaking on her round, Aditi said;

“I started out facing bogies in the first couple of holes, but I steadied through and am happy with the bogey-free round.”

“I have never played with such a lead. I am trying not to think about it too much, I am setting small goals for each hole or six or every nine. Bogey free has been a goal I have had for some time and I am happy that I achieved it. Hopefully I will do more of the same tomorrow.”

Second placed April Angurasaranee’s shot two eagle threes, at the 11th and 15th, two bogeys and a birdie to return a round’s score of 3-under par, 70. She sits three strokes ahead of England’s Cara Gainer. Gabriela Ruffels (-3), Alice Hewson (-2), Gurleen Kaur (-1), Esther Henseleit (-1), Noora Komulainen (par), Kylie Henry (par) and Amalie Leth-Nissen (Par) wrap up the top 10.

Kenya’s Naomi Wafula played a round of 5-over-par, 78, to take her total to 14 over par, placing her at T55. A triple bogey at the tricky par-4 3rd and a double bogey at the 11th dented what was a good round for Naomi, which featured four birdies.

Speaking after her round Naomi said;

“It was a good round today, apart from two holes that let me down, but overall I am okay with the round. We are working on my putting as I currently have an open club face, which saw me hit a three-putt at hole seventeen.”

“I had a lot of support today, I am grateful for all the support and everybody who followed me today.”

The last round of action tees off tomorrow at 9:45 AM, with the players out to take home their piece of the 300,000 Euros prize fund.

Spectators can purchase tickets to catch the final round of the tournament through the online platform www.ticketsasa.com which are retailing for KES 500 per day.