Robson Chinhoi wins Safari Tour Series at Vet Lab

Zimbabwean player Robson Chinhoi was yesterday declared the winner of the 2021/22 Safari Tour Golf Series second leg that concluded at the par 72 Vet Lab Sports Club, Kabete.

He fired two under par 70 for total four rounds of five under 283 to carry the day.

“I feel good, I feel really good,” said a jubilant Chinhoi.

Chinhoi maintained his day one game plan as he headed into the final round.

“This course has been good to me, it was playing really quick but I managed to control it by keeping the ball on the fairways and hitting enough greens,” he said.

In the decisive round four, Chinhoi carded birdies in holes 5 and 8 in the front nine and 13 and 15 at the back nine.

He dropped shots in holes 2 and 3 which he bogeyed.

“I think in overall, I played a very solid game. I will carry on with the same spirit as we head for the third leg at the Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort in Naivasha,” he said.

Asked what he is going to do with the Sh308, 000 prize money he was awarded for the feat, Chinhoi simply said:”I will use it to cater for logistics in the series.”

This is the fourth tournament Chinhoi is winning in the circuit following his triumphs in Royal, Nyali and Uganda Open last season.

Vet Lab Sports Club pro Mike Kisia, Muthaiga’s Greg Snow and Sigona’s Mohit Mediratta tied joint second after finishing on three under par 285 apiece.

Kisia pulled one of the greatest surprises in the tournament when he hit a six under par 66 to perch second place on day three.

“I went full blast, I said there is no need to play safe. I wanted to honour my golf club since we were the hosts. I’m glad I did it,” Kisia said.

The 27-year old slotted an eagle in par-5 7th in the front nine and carded level pars in the rest of the holes in round four.

At the back nine, he birdied in holes 10 and 14.

“I was playing safe to make the cut in the first two days before I took the risk on the third day. Today, I played safe because I didn’t want anything to interfere with my top three placement,” Kisia said.

Kisia , who turned professional in 2019, admitted that his game was better in the leg because of his vast knowledge of the Vet Lab course.

“This is my home ground, I know all the corners of this pitch, I have mastered how to tackle the pin positions,” Kisia said.

“I also practised a lot at the range before the tournament.”

Snow said his aggressiveness on the course helped him to perform better including topping the leader board on day two.

Snow had missed last week’s opening leg in Sigona due to a shoulder injury.