Guido Migliozzi wins Kenya Open

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 17 March 2019

Italy’s Guido Migliozzi fired a final round 69 at Karen CC to win the Kenya Open by a single shot from Adri Arnaus, Louis De Jager and Justin Harding.

Guido Migliozzi wins Kenya Open

Playing in just his 14th European Tour event, Italian Guido Migliozzi held his nerve to win the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa. Migilozzi parred the final six holes to hold off the chasing pack at Karen CC in Nairobi.

Following a superb 64 on Saturday, Migliozzi started the final round at Karen CC tied with Spain’s Adri Arnaus on 14-under-par. The pair traded blows through the final round with South Africans Louis De Jager and Justin Harding (a winner last week in Qatar) also contending on Sunday.

After a crucial birdie on the 12th, Migliozzi kept his nose in front by parring his way in. He hit the flag on the 18th and two putts later he was the champion.

"I like this moment," he said. "I like the pressure, it's like a drug. I love pressure, I love playing with a lot of people looking at me and a lot of cameras. There was a lot of pressure on the course. After the birdie at the 12th I was leading but it was tough. I just kept patient towards the end, that was it. I enjoyed the last two days very much. The pressure was a lot and I'm happy about how I'm playing under pressure, also with my putting game that I worked a lot on."

Adri Arnaus, Louis De Jager and Justin Harding tied for second place with India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar in solo fifth. Romain Langasque of France fired a superb 65 to end the week in a tie for sixth place with Finland’s Kalle Samooja.

Kenya Open Karen CC, Nairobi, Kenya 14-17 March Purse: €1,100,000 Par: 71

1 Guido Migliozzi (Ita) 67 68 64 69 268 €183,330 T2 Adri Arnaus (Esp) 66 68 65 70 269 €82,027 T2 Louis De Jager (RSA) 64 66 70 69 269 €82,027 T2 Justin Harding (RSA) 70 65 68 66 269 €82,027 5 Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) 65 70 66 69 270 €46,640 T6 Romain Langasque (Fra) 67 70 69 65 271 €35,750 T6 Kalle Samooja (Fin) 70 67 64 70 271 €35,750 8 Liam Johnston (Sco) 67 69 67 71 274 €27,500 T9 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) 67 73 66 69 275 €22,293 T9 Josh Geary (NZL) 67 73 67 68 275 €22,293 T9 Anton Karlsson (Swe) 69 70 68 68 275 €22,293

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

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Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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