GREG SNOW ENDS TITLE DROUGHT WITH SAFARI GOLF TOUR WIN AT THIKA GREENS
By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS
Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow, ended his four month wait for a Safari tour title by lifting the latest leg at Thika Greens Golf Resort today, after playing rounds of 67, 73, 72, 71 for an impressive gross of 5-under par, 283.
Snow, who last lifted a 2019/20 Safari Tour title in the opening leg, at the Nyali Golf Club in August, came into the seventh leg with a point to prove and wasted no time in doing so. He got his campaign under way with a score of 5-under par, 67 to give him the lead after round one, a lead he would hold on to till the end.
He came into the last round holding a two stroke lead over Thika Golf Club’s Simon Ngige, with the two playing off the same group. Snow shot two birdies; on the par-5, second and par-5, eighteenth, three bogeys; on the eighth, tenth and twelfth and one eagle on the par-4, fifth for a round score of 1-under par, 71, one shot better than Barclays Bank sponsored Ngige who managed two birdies and two bogeys, for a gross score of 2-under par, 286.
Speaking after his win, Greg mentioned how he enjoyed playing at the Thika Greens Golf Club while thanking his sponsor, Johnnie Walker for the continued support.
“I was in great form over the four days, I enjoyed myself and consistently played some great golf, it feels great to finally get my hands on a Safari tour title after a long wait. I still have a bit to work on before Muthaiga and I look forward to the challenge. I want to thank Johnnie Walker and KBL for their continued support over this Safari tour,” he said.
He added: “It was down to fatigue, I played a lot of golf towards the end of the year at the Sunshine and Safari tours and I was simply burnt out. I got some good rest over the holidays and I am now ready for the new year.”
David Wakhu finished in third, after playing rounds of 74, 74, 69 and 72 for gross score of 1-over par, 289.
Despite not making the cut at Thika Greens, Dismas Indiza still leads the ‘Road to the 2020 Magical Kenya Open’ standings on 290.6 points, Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Eric Ooko is in second on 272.3 after picking up 40 points in this leg. Thika Golf Club’s Simon Ngige is in fourth on 262.6 points, Greg Snow’s 50 points in Thika takes him up to fourth on 250 points.
For his efforts, Snow pocketed Sh150,000 which includes a Sh45,000 bonus for a gross score of 3-under par or better. Second placed Ngige took home Sh 70,000 with third placed David Wakhu won Sh56,000.
Safari tour action now moves to the Muthaiga Golf Club from January 11 to 15 for the eighth leg, with four legs left on the calendar expect the competition to hit a crescendo as players battle for the eight available slots to the 2020 Magical Kenya Open.
Safari Tour Calendar 2019/20
Event 1 Nyali Golf and Country Club: 24th – 28th August 2019 (Winner: Greg Snow)
Event 2 Uganda Open:10th – 14th Sept 2019 (Winner: Madalitso Muthiya)
Event 3 Royal Nairobi Golf Club: 12th – 16th October 2019 (Winner: Tony Omuli)
Event 4 Entebbe Open (Entebbe Golf Club): 30th Oct – 2nd Nov 2019 (Winner: Jastas Madoya)
Event 5 Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort Open: 6th – 9th Nov 2019 (Winner: Dismas Indiza)
Event 6 Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort: 23rd – 27th Nov2019 (Winner: Dismas Indiza)
Event 7 Thika Greens: 4th – 8th January 2020 (Winner: Greg Snow)
Event 8 Muthaiga Golf Club: 11th – 15th January 2020
Event 9 Sigona Golf Club: 25th – 29th January 2020
Event 10 Kitante Open (Uganda Golf Club): 12th – 15th February 2020
Event 11 Karen Country Club: 22nd -26th February 2020
2019 Magical Kenya Open, Karen Country Club, 12th – 15th March 2020.