By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige produced a bogey-free six-under par 66 at the close of day one of the 2022 Safari Tour seventh leg at Karen Country Club’s par 72 course on Sunday.

He holed in eight pars and a birdie at the par-four-ninth, then birdied the 13^th, 15^th, 16^th and an eagle three at the par five-18^th for a low 31 and his brilliant six-under par score which was one shot better than Mohit Mediratta of Sigona who shot five-under par 67.

Mediratta started well, firing three back-to-back birdies over the first three holes, but made a double-bogey six at the par four-sixth, one of the toughest holes at Karen. He however made birdies from the 11^th to the 13^th and closed with back-to-back birdies in the last two holes.

Three other players led by Kisumu-based David Odhiambo tied on four under par 68 in the opening day which saw 20 players finishing on under-par scores an indication of a tight cut in today Monday’s second-round cut. Odhiambo who dropped a shot in each nine, made three birdies at the front nine’s second and third and at the par three-seventh before he bogeyed the eighth.

Of the other two, Zimbabwe’s Visitor Mapwanya started with a bogey and ended the front nine with another bogey, but he made a birdie and an eagle at the second and third while at the back nine Mapwanya birdied the 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th and later on the 15^th but closed the day with a bogey at the par five-18^th . Zambia’s Sydney Wemba recovered from an early bogey at the first hole, to roll in birdies at the seventh and eighth and the back nine’s 11^th, 13^th, and 15^th to stay close to the leader.

Tournament favorite Robson Chinhoi from Zimbabwe, three-putted the 13^th and lost a ball at the par-five- 15^th but still managed to finish the day on three under par 69.

“The course is generally good, the greens though not fast but they are ok. The course is definitely better than Limuru. I am happy with my game despite three-putting the 13^th and the bogey at the 15^th as a result of a lost ball. A double-digit will be good for me even if I don’t win’’ said Chinhoi who won the sixth leg at Limuru on two under par total.

Uganda Open champion Justus Madoya shot two under par 70 to tie for seventh place with Muthaiga’s Mutahi Kibugu and Riz Charania of Windsor. Five others were on one under par 71 and were led by Uganda’s Silver Opio and included Mathew Wahome from Nyali Golf and Country Club.  A field of 76 players including three amateurs had teed off in the opening round where Limuru Country Club’s Dennis Maara was the best amateur on four over par 76.

The Leader Board:

Simon Ngige 66

Mohit Mediratta 67

Sydney Wemba (Zam) 68

Visitor Mapwanya(Zim) 68

David Odhiambo 68

Robson Chinhoi (Zim) 69

Justus Madoya 70

Mutahi Kibugu 70

Riz Charania 70.

 

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 6th, 2022 at 10:01 PM and is filed under Golf News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.