INDIZA BEATS NJOROGE BY SINGLE SHOT TO COMPLETE DRAMATIC RESURGENCE AT ROYAL, AINLEY FINISH THIRD
By DANIELLA APIYO
After four days of brilliant displays, Mumias long-hitter Dismas Indiza dramatically emerged the winner of the opening leg of the 2015 KCB Golf Tour at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club today.
The Mumias based professional turned the tables in the last two rounds and eventually pocketed a winner’s price of Sh 195,000 despite having trailed initial run-a-way leader Richard Ainley by six shots at halfway stage and eventually beating a resurgent Bryan Njoroge by a single shot on the final day.
Indiza, who recently participated in two Sunshine Tour pre-qualifiers in George and Johannesburg courtesy of KCB sponsorship, had his campaign in the 72- hole event effectively sewn-up when early leader Richard Ainley posted another bad round of 3 over 75 on the last day.
Indiza’s rounds of 71, 71, 69 and 70 over the past four days was all that he needed to rack up a 7 under par 281 gross victory. He candidly admitted having to contend with early scares from Ainley.
And Indiza did it in bravado despite beating Vet Lab’s Brian Njoroge by a solitary shot.
While all eyes were on the rivalry pitting Ainley against Indiza, Njoroge had the best round in today’s play when he returned a score of 5 under par 67 for a gross total of 6 under par 282.
“It was really scary when Richard opened a six shot lead on Wednesday. But after we tied on 5 under at penultimate stage, I knew the situation was manageable going into the last round. And after sinking in an eagle and a birdie in the first nine, I knew I had finished Richard only to encounter fresh opposition from Njoroge,” said Indiza.
Richard Ainley settled for third overall position with a total score of 2 under par 286. Ainley got a cash award of Sh 100,000 which was a good consolation for his woes over the past four days.
Boniface Simwa, who qualified for the Kenya Open at penultimate stage, finished fourth on a total of 1 under par 287. Simwa pocketed Sh. 95,000.
Greg Snow played a total of level par 288 to end up in fifth place. Greg collected ksh. 90,000.
Indiza picked up an eagle on the par five hole 7 and sunk in a total of four birdies on holes 2, 3, 5 and 14. He dropped three shots in the second nine.
Ainley dropped four shots on holes 2, 6, 7 and 16.
The next round of the KCB Golf Tour heads to Thika Sports Club next month.
The KCB Corporate Golf wraps up the Royal tour on Saturday with over 200 amateurs expected to grace the occasion.
Final results after four rounds:
1 D. Indiza 281 (71, 71, 69, 70) -7
2. B. Njoroge 282 (71, 75, 69, 67) -6
3. R. Ainley 286 (67, 69, 75, 75) -2
4. B. Simwa 287 (68, 77, 74, 68) -1
5. G. Snow 288 (70, 73, 72, 73) level par
6. N. M. Ngugi 289 (75, 73, 71, 70) +1
D. Opati 289 (76, 70, 75, 69) +1
8. J. Karanja 293 (74,73, 73, 73) +5
E. Ooko 293 (73, 72, 76, 72) +5
10. F. Matilo 297 (70, 75, 75, 77) +9
D. Odhiambo 297 (78, 70, 75, 74) +9
12. S Ngige 308 (70, 72, 80, 80)
13. Paul Thuo 308 (73, 75, 80, 80)
14. N. Mudanyi 310 (72, 75, 84, 79) nike air max womens nike air max womens