Golf: Snow hits form as Thimba closes gap

Muthaiga Golf Clubs' Greg Snow tees off on the par-4 10th on the first day of the Karen Masters at the Karen Golf & Country Club, Nairobi Country, June 27, 2019. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Kenya’s Greg Snow bounced back with an impressive round of 6 under par 66 to regain top 10 on the KCB Karen Masters leader board yesterday.

The Muthaiga professional, who finished fourth in the inaugural edition in 2017, had his campaign effectively sewn up when he sunk four birdies in the first nine and three in the back nine.

Snow, now the leading Kenyan on T8, started off on T2 on Thursday’s round one but dipped to T23 when he shot 2 over par 74 on Friday.

The Safari Tour champion regained his grove on Day Three proceedings with a gross total of 9 under par 207.

“Round three was all good as I was able to regain the top 10. I tried my level best to control the ball by hitting the greens more but I still feel I need to practice a lot more on my putting. The course is in good condition and I see no reason why locals should not play well. In Sunday’s (today) last round, I will surely stay relaxed and see how it goes. At least, it has eased off a big burden on our expenses,” said Snow. He birdied holes 1, 2,4,7, 12, 19 and 18 but dropped a shot on the par 4 -9th.

Golf Park pro David Wakhu is the second best placed Kenyan with a gross total of 7 under par 205 after dropping a shot on the par 4- 18th. Wakhu goes into the last round in joint 14th position.

Third-placed local is Mumias long hitter Dismas Indiza who heads to the closing round on a gross total of 5 under.

On the summit, the battle for the blue jacket promises great moments ahead for fans with Portuguese Stephen Ferreira’s lead reduced to a mere one shot.

Ferreira has led the 2019 edition of the Masters from the start and has dazzled his fans since Thursday.

Ferreira started round three with a three-shot cushion, but not until South Africa’s Toto Thimba pilled more pressure to cut his lead to a solitary shot. The two went into the last two holes separated by one stroke. 

Ferreira wowed spectators at the par 72 Karen Country Club on Thursday when he set a course record with a scintillating round of 10 under par 62. But Thimba, who led his team to Pro-Am victory on Wednesday, bounced back on Day Two with a stunning 9 under par 63 and its been neck and neck affair between the two front runners. What's up sleeve remains unknown.