Published July 17, 2008 on March 24, 2018

Rookie Schmitt Impresses in Kenya

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Max Schmitt continued his excellent start to life on the European Challenge Tour by carding a second round of 65 to take a two-shot lead into the weekend of the season-opening Barclays Kenya Open.

The 19 year old, who is making his first Challenge Tour appearance this week, followed up an opening 67 with another excellent showing, carding seven birdies – including an exquisite chip-in at the par three 11^th – to reach ten under par after 36 holes.

Making just his fourth start as a professional, the young German has quickly made the step up from the satellite Pro Golf Tour, where he triumphed three times as an amateur last season.

Following such a promising first two rounds, Schmitt admits he is excited for what the weekend will bring at Nairobi’s Muthaiga Golf Club.

“It was a perfect round,” he said. “I had just the one bogey, which wasn’t nice, but I came back with a lot of birdies after that so I am quite pleased right now.

“I really got going over the back nine. Although I started with a bogey on ten, which was disappointing as it is quite an easy hole, I had a great run of birdies – which was unbelievable.

“It’s really great to be leading. I am really excited for the next two days as I don’t think the first two could have gone any better.

“My ball striking is really good right now, my wedge shots have been pure – I hit only one bad wedge shot today – and apart from that I have been putting everything within ten feet.

“I’m not really used to being in the lead but I am going to try everything to stay at the top of the leaderboard. I did win three times last year though which I think will help me over the weekend.

“It is a very big event which I really want to win.”

Two adrift of Schmitt is Norway’s Kristian Krogh Johannessen, who set the early clubhouse target at eight under par after a second consecutive round of 67.

One shot further back are Swedish duo Simon Forsstrom and Sebastian Soderberg. Soderberg has previously tasted success in East Africa, having triumphed in the 2016 Barclays Kenya Open at neighbouring Karen Country Club.

Leading the home charge is Mohit Mediratta, who is three under par overall following a second round of 70 – comfortably inside the cut line which fell at one over par.

 

Scores after Round Two:

132 M Schmitt (Ger) 67 65,
134 K Johannessen (Nor) 67 67,
135 S Soderberg (Swe) 70 65, S Forsström (Swe) 66 69,
136 J Walters (RSA) 68 68, A Karlsson (Swe) 67 69, B Evans (Eng) 69 67, L Gagli (Ita) 68 68, M Orrin (Eng) 65 71,
137 D Stewart (Sco) 69 68, N Von Dellingshausen (Ger) 67 70, L Canter (Eng) 69 68, D Perrier (Fra) 70 67, N Geyger (Chi) 69 68,
138 V Riu (Fra) 68 70, M Hoey (Nir) 66 72, M Baldwin (Eng) 67 71, J Stalter (Fra) 67 71, G Stal (Fra) 69 69, R Kellett (Sco) 65 73,
139 N Cullen (Aus) 71 68, P Mejow (Ger) 67 72, M Mediratta (Ken) 69 70, C Blomstrand (Swe) 70 69, P Figueiredo (Por) 69 70, J Girrbach (Sui) 71 68, J Quesne (Fra) 70 69, K Koivu (Fin) 70 69, B Ritthammer (Ger) 72 67, J Ahlers (RSA) 66 73,
140 D Huizing (Ned) 70 70, M Nixon (Eng) 67 73, J Sjöholm (Swe) 67 73, A Michael (RSA) 68 72, G Hurley (Irl) 71 69, D Law (Sco) 69 71,
141 C Sharvin (Nir) 71 70, K Samooja (Fin) 71 70, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 70 71, R Sciot-Siegrist (Fra) 68 73, O Lindell (Fin) 75 66, J Senior (Eng) 72 69, M Haastrup (Den) 71 70, J Doherty (Sco) 70 71, A Rozner (Fra) 70 71, G Forrest (Sco) 73 68, F Aguilar (Chi) 69 72,
142 P Maddy (Eng) 71 71, N Schietekat (RSA) 70 72, M Ford (Eng) 71 71, R Charania (Ken) 71 71, S Heisele (Ger) 74 68, E Johansen (Nor) 70 72, M Schwab (Aut) 76 66, V Perez (Fra) 70 72, T Linard (Fra) 73 69, J Fahrbring (Swe) 72 70, H Leon (Chi) 72 70, P Karmis (RSA) 72 70,
143 O Lengden (Swe) 71 72, M Madsen (Den) 73 70, M Ovesen (Den) 75 68, M Armitage (Eng) 75 68, A Tadini (Ita) 70 73, N Johansson (Swe) 72 71, R McGowan (Eng) 76 67, J Lima (Por) 68 75, R Van West (Ned) 76 67, J Munro (Aus) 69 74, R Langasque (Fra) 70 73, S Manley (Wal) 70 73, M Iten (Sui) 73 70, O Bekker (RSA) 74 69,
144 M Kim (Kor) 74 70, F Laporta (Ita) 69 75, M Fenasse (Fra) 71 73, R Saxton (Ned) 70 74, N Kimsey (Eng) 73 71, A Odoh (Ngr) 73 71, J Thomson (Eng) 70 74, A Arnaus (Esp) 71 73, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 73 71, A Boasson (Isl) 72 72, O Obura (Ken) 72 72, O Strydom (RSA) 71 73, C Syme (Sco) 69 75, T Murray (Eng) 71 73, G Snow (Ken) 72 72, G Porteous (Eng) 73 71,
145 G Moynihan (Irl) 72 73, R Dinwiddie (Eng) 72 73, B Virto (Esp) 72 73, T Lewis (Eng) 73 72, A Meronk (Pol) 73 72, C Bezuidenhout (RSA) 72 73, H Sturehed (Swe) 71 74,
146 P Howard (Eng) 72 74, F Maccario (Ita) 73 73, J Edfors (Swe) 75 71, J Arnoy (Nor) 72 74, D Wakhu (Ken) 73 73, C Mivis (Bel) 72 74, N Ngugi (Ken) 74 72, R Santos (Por) 74 72, A Knappe (Ger) 71 75, U Coussaud (Fra) 74 72, E Mudanyi (am) (Ken) 75 71,
147 D Foos (Ger) 74 73, B Njoroge (Ken) 72 75, A Hall (Aus) 75 72, M Schneider (Ger) 71 76, G Boyd (Eng) 79 68, M Carlsson (Swe) 72 75, Å Nilsson (Swe) 72 75, E España (Fra) 76 71, C Doak (Sco) 74 73, L De Jager (RSA) 78 69,
148 L Nemecz (Aut) 70 78, C Braeunig (Ger) 71 77, J Hansen (Den) 72 76, S Engell Andersen (Ken) 70 78, M Lafeber (Ned) 75 73, S Walker (Eng) 72 76, O Stark (Swe) 74 74,
149 R McGee (Irl) 74 75, B Stow (Eng) 73 76, S Matus (Cze) 75 74, D Indiza Anyonyi (Ken) 76 73,
150 B Eccles (Aus) 75 75, A Nandwa (Ken) 72 78, R Kakko (Fin) 77 73, M Lundberg (Swe) 75 75, S Ngige (Ken) 72 78, J Huldahl (Den) 75 75, N Simwa (Ken) 74 76, S Henry (Sco) 75 75,
151 B Chandaria (am) (Ken) 76 75,
152 S Tiley (Eng) 76 76, J Madoya (Ken) 75 77,
153 M Omondi (Ken) 76 77, N Rokoine (Ken) 75 78, J Okello (Ken) 78 75, T Omuli (Ken) 76 77, E Ndayinsenga (Rwa) 77 76,
154 C Wangai (Ken) 77 77,
155 J Kubwa (Ken) 73 82,
156 F Matilo (Ken) 75 81,
157 F Wanzala (Uga) 81 76,
158 R Rugumayo (am) (Uga) 79 79,
159 K Timbe (Ken) 80 79,
160 D Nduva (am) (Ken) 76 84,
161 V Joseph (am) (Tan) 81 80,
163 D Odhiambo (Ken) 82 81,
166 J Mollel (Tan) 78 88,
168 D Saikwa (am) (Ken) 87 81,
** E Goya (Arg) 69 RT,