Shaw in the pack in Kenya

Gareth Shaw continued his solid start to the Challenge Tour season when he finished tied 31st in the Tusker Kenya Open.

The tall 23-year-old from Lurgan followed three birdies in his first four holes by dropping four shots in a three-hole run from the sixth before playing the back nine in two-under for an respectable 70.

He finished the tournament on two-over par, 15 shots behind 22-year old Englishman Gareth Boyd, who carded a final round 69 at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobto take the title by three shots from his fellow countrymen Andrew Butterfield and Philip Golding. 

While Shaw would have been looking for a higher finish, he earned a cheque for €1,350 and is 24th on the Challenge Tour rankings. The top 20 money winners at the end of the season will earn playing rights on the European Tour for 2010.

Greystones' Alan Murray, who is Category 10 on the Challenge Tour as a graduate of the Europro satellite tour, signed off with a level par 71 to claim 57th place on eight over.

But it was a week to forget in Africa for Douglas man Peter O'Keeffe, who finished last in the 64-man field on 18-over after a closing 75.

European Challenge Tour – Tusker Kenya Open Muthaiga Golf Club, Nairobi.  

Fourth and Final Round scores (Par 284)  

271 G Boyd  (Eng) 67 64 71 69,

275 A Butterfield (Eng) 67 70 70 68, P Golding (Eng) 74 70 66 65,

277 D Hewan (RSA) 70 66 72 69,

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286 G Shaw (Nir) 71 73 72 70

292 A Murray (Irl) 69 73 79 71

302 P O'Keeffe  (Irl) 70 74 83 75,