AFRICA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

February 5, 2025

Michael Karanga

Quick Quotes

Q. 4-under par round to start the Africa Amateur Championship. How happy are you with that performance?

MICHAEL KARANGA: Very happy with my performance today. I started with a level par on the first nine, it's a bit tough, and I had to give myself chances of scoring on the back nine.

Q. You finished with a superb eagle on the final hole. Talk us through that and how happy you are with that eagle.

MICHAEL KARANGA: That eagle -- I think No. 17, I three-putted. I had like a 15-foot putt for birdie. I ended up three-putting. So I hit my drive on No. 18 and I had to go for it to look for birdie to make up what I did on No. 17. Luckily I had a good putt and I made an eagle.

Q. With that round, how much momentum does that give you or confidence does that give you for the round tomorrow?

MICHAEL KARANGA: It's a good competition. We are playing with really good golfers, best ones in South Africa, so I was keeping my best and trying to do my best so it doesn't beat me. In the process I end up playing 4-under, and for tomorrow I'm looking forward to going even deeper.

Q. Talk about the Leopard Creek venue. How big a challenge is Leopard Creek, especially in these conditions?

MICHAEL KARANGA: This course is amazing. It's beautiful, I'm telling you. I've played very many courses, and this is one of the best courses I've played, outside here in South Africa, was in Cape Town. It's a very nice course. It's a bit challenging, but when you keep the ball in play, you can score and play under, under, under.