Golf: Snow storms to Tour lead at Karen Club

Kenya Open Golf Limited chairman Peter Kanyago (left) receives a dummy cheque from Absa Managing Director Jeremy Awori. [Courtesy]

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow shot a round of 1-over 72 to take his total to 1-under par 212, which was enough for him to take the leaderboard of the Karen Country Club leg of the 2019-2020 Safari Tour Golf Series.

On the front nine, he carded 33 courtesy of birdies at the par-5 sixth, par-4 eighth and par-4 ninth; with his only dropped shot there coming at the par-4 third.

On the back nine, he had a tough outing having started off with a bogey at the 10th before following that up with consecutive birdies at the 11th and the 12th.

He, however, proceeded to hole consecutive bogeys at the 13th, 14th and 15th before ending the round with yet another bogey at the 18th hole to see him card a total of 39.

His performance leaves him one shot better than his nearest challenger, Aloys Nsabimana of Rwanda, setting up what promises to be a grand finish to the tournament.

Nsabimana, who came into the round as overnight leader with a two-shot lead, had a day to forget after he shot a round of 4-over par 75; taking his total to level-par 213.

On the first nine, he carded 39 thanks to bogeys at the first, fourth, fifth and sixth holes and did not hole a single birdie.

Meanwhile, Absa Bank Kenya PLC yesterday announced a Sh75 million sponsorship for this year’s Magical Kenya Open golf rournament.

This year’s tournament will take place between March 12-15 at the Karen Country Club and is expected to attract a large number of global professional as well as Kenyan players.

[Standard Sports]

Meanwhile, Johnnie-Walker Sponsored Dismas Indiza continued with his steady run at the tournament; shooting a round of level par 71 to take his total to 1-over par 214. With his third-round score, he is now tied in third alongside Zimbabwean Madalitso Muthiya going into the final round. Madalitso, who has also had a steady outing at the event having shot 70 on the first round and 72 on the second round, finished the day with a round of 72.. [Standard Sports]

Absa sponsored Eric Ooko, who started the round in T9, returned a score of 3-under par, 68, to see him move to third place, on a gross score of 1-under par, 141. 

The Royal Nairobi Golf Club pro started his round with a birdie at the par-3 second, before bogeying the par-3 fourth and followed it up with a birdie at the par-5 sixth.

[Standard Sports]

He then completed his front nine round with back-to-back birdies at the 8th and 9th for a turning score of 2-under par 33.

He opened his back nine run with two more birdies at the 11th and 12th followed by a bogey at the 13th as he held on par through the rest of the holes for a round score of 68.

A total of 21 players made the Cut, which was eventually set at 8-over par.

Some players who missed the chance to play in the third and fourth rounds include the winner of the Royal Nairobi leg Anthony Juma, Uganda’s Philip Kasozi, Mohit Mediratta and Riz Charania.

Round three action tees off today at 8am, with players now focused on getting a piece of the Sh3 million kitty and a last chance to qualify for the 2020 Magical Kenya Open. 

 

Unique Sports
SCHOOLS: Dagoretti Mixed and Hospital Hill lead charge to defend titles in Nairobi Region
Rugby
SCHOOLS: Kitondo sets sights on national glory ahead of Eastern Region rugby showdown
Athletics
Watch out for improved times at Lukenya marathon on Sunday
Rugby
SCHOOLS: Maseno School renew rivalry with St Mary's Yala in rugby