Magical Kenya Open: Ngige battles on as Snow melts

Simon Ngige during the ongoing 2019 Magical Kenya Open Championship. [Standard]

Simon Ngige kept Kenya’s hopes alive yesterday as he booked a slot in the third round of the Magical Kenya Open while his compatriots found the going tough.

Ngige of Thika Sports Club shot 3-under 68 on the opening round going into the second despite starting on the wrong footing after his caddie John Kagiri got to the tee-box eight minutes to tee-off.

He picked a par and a birdie and dropped a couple of shots before recollecting himself to play for par which would in turn give way to birdies.

He picked four birdies on the par-five 6th, par-four 9th, par-five 11th, and the par-three 16th.

Sinking pars on the par-three third, par-four fourth, par-five fifth, par-four eight, par-four 10th, par-four 13th and par-four 18th.

Another Kenyan, Greg Snow’s chances of making the cut melted after he closed his second round at 1-over 73 to put his round total after the second day at 3-over (73,72) 145.

Snow, winner of the 2018/19 Safari Tour Golf Series, struggled with his form on the second round, returning a 1-over par 72 score for a tournament total of 3-over par 145.

With the projected cut set at 1-over par, his total score effectively leaves him out of contention to play in the final two rounds of the tournament.

He started off the round steadily, holding par at the par-4, 10th, before holing consecutive birdies at the par-5, 11th and the par-5, 12th.

He held par on the 13th, 14th and 15th holes, before hitting consecutive bogeys at the 16th and 17th holes to card a total of 36.

On the first nine, where he struggled with form on round one of the tournament, he carded a total of 36 courtesy of two birdies at the par-4, first and the par-4, seventh; a bogey on the par-4, third and a double-bogey on the par-5, sixth.

Snow, who came into the tournament as one of Kenya’s favourites to challenge at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open, had yesterday said that his objective today was to enjoy himself on the course and get the best out of the round.

He played in the company of the victorious 2018 Ryder Cup captain, Thomas Bjorn (who played one-under for the day for a tournament total of 2-under par 140) and winner of the 2019 Qatar Open, Justin Harding from South Africa, who finished the round with a 6-under par score for a tournament total of 7-under par 135.

Justus Madoya was second best player among the Kenyan contingent as he returned to the clubhouse at level par after a constant showing.

South African Louis de Jager disposed overnight leader Brighton Jack Brar with a commanding lead of 11-under (64,66) 130. Brar dropped to second place after the second round at 8-under (64,80) 144 while Guido Migliozi settled for third place.

“I started off birdie-birdie and it got me in the right mindset for the round, said Jager after his round. “I kept it going, kept it on the fairways,” De Jager said.