American Kurt Kitayama made a charge on Sunday during the final round of the Magical Kenya Open, but Justin Harding met him shot for shot, and the South African clinched his second European Tour win in the process.
Kitayama — who stands at 125 in the Official World Golf Ranking and 224 on the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings, but entered this week in the top 30 in the Euro Tour’s Race to Dubai — made a pair of eagles on Sunday and cut Harding’s lead to one on the 17th hole with a birdie.
But Harding, who has seven Sunshine Tour wins under his belt, responded with a birdie of his own to give himself some cushion on the final hole at Karen Country Club in Nairobi.
Harding matches Kitayama on 17 as they both make birdies.
The South African takes a two-shot lead to the 18th tee. #MagicalKenyaOpen pic.twitter.com/9CKwPVOtZ9
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 21, 2021
Harding finished Sunday with a 66 and ended the event at 21 under. Kitayama was alone in second at 19 under.
Only two players in the OWGR top 100 — No. 77 Aaron Rai and No. 87 George Coetzee — made the trip.
