Robson Chinhoi poses with the winners prize at Limuru Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi beat Kenya’s Erick Ooko by four shots, to claim the sixth leg of the 2021/2022 Safari Tour series at the par 72 Limuru Country Club course on Wednesday.

Starting the day in third place behind the third round leaders Justus Madoya and Ooko, Chinhoi produced a round of two under par 70 despite having bogeyed two holes in the final round, a score which saw clinch the title with an aggregate of two under par 286.

“This is not the kind of sores I had anticipated, but all the same, I am happy to have emerged the winner against very good players Madoya and Ooko’’ said Chinhoi who had bogeyed the second hole and at the 15^th in the back nine, with birdies coming on the third, seventh, 12^th and 18^th holes.

“I am looking forward for the remaining two events at Karen and Muthaiga where I hope to return better scores as we gear towards the Magical Kenya Open’’ added Chinhoi who leads the regional players in the “Road to Magical Kenya open’’ with a total of 104 points. 

Besides the trophy, Chinhoi picked up a Sh319,091 cheque, as Ooko who had an awful back nine, finished second with two over par 290 after posting four over par 76 in the final round.

Robson Chinhoi of Zimbabwe poses with the winner’s prize and cheque after the Limuru Leg of Safari Golf Tour.

Ooko blamed his take off from the tee particularly at the back nine where he dropped four shots, with only one birdie on his card. 

“I was really looking forward to win this event having led in three rounds, but my tee shots let me down today and in particular at the back nine where I was either pulling to the left of hitting to the right. This made it difficult for me hit enough greens on regulation’’ said Ooko who however took home Sh176,364.

“I know I have qualified for the Open, but I would like to win the remaining events because that will give the confidence in need as we approach the Magical Kenya Open’’ added the Golf Park based Ooko. 

It was equally a bad day for Great Rift Valley Golf Resort based Madoya who picked a bogey after a bogey during the day with a double at the ninth completely ruining his chances of clinching a back to back victory, having won the Uganda Open last month at Entebbe Golf Club.

He finally had to settle in fourth place on five over par 293 after closing with 79, and a shot worse than third placed Samuel Njoroge who shot 75 for 292. Junior amateur golfer Njoroge Kibugu tied for eighth place with senior pro Dismas Indiza on eight over par 296. He shot two over 74 in the final round same as Indiza. 

“I am very happy making the cut for a start though my second round was not very good, but I am working on my game to make sure that I am ready for the Open’’ said Kibugu who is travelling to Cape Town South Africa to play a couple of events and also try and correct some few problems in his game before he returns for the Open.

The final leader board:

Robson Chinhoi (Zim) 76. 71, 69, 70=286

Erick Ooko 70, 72, 72 76= 290

Samuel Njoroge 70, 75, 72, 75= 292

Justus Madoya 71, 72, 71, 79= 293

Simon Ngige 76, 73, 72, 73= 294

Mike Kisia 77, 68, 74, 75= 294

David Wakhu 76, 76, 75, 68= 295

Njoroge Kibugu(AM) 75, 77, 70, 74= 296

Dismas Indiza 78, 71, 7374= 296.

Patrick Reed of the US tees off during the first round of DP World Tour Championship European Tour Golf tournament 2021 at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 18 November 2021. EPA/ALI HAIDER

By KGG TEAM

SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to seeing all the action from the PGA Tour’s The Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California from Wednesday 26 to Saturday 29 January 2022.

SuperSport is the ultimate destination for Golf fans, with an unparalleled selection of action from around the world.

The tournament was founded in 1952, meaning this year’s event celebrates 70 years of the Farmers Insurance Open (originally known as the San Diego Open before title sponsorship began in 1981). The 2021 edition was won by Patrick Reed who shot 274 (-14) to finish a comfortable five strokes ahead of co-runners-up Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Henrik Norlander, Ryan Palmer and Xander Schauffele.

Tiger Woods holds the record for the most Farmers Insurance Open titles, with seven victories (1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2013), while Phil Mickelson is next on the all-time list with three (1993, 2000 and 2001).

Last year’s champion Patrick Reed will return to defend his title and headline the field alongside world number one and 2021 US Open winner Jon Rahm. The Spaniard won the major title at the Torrey Pines Golf Course and will no doubt be looking forward to returning to the site of his greatest career achievement thus far.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Jon back to the Farmers Insurance Open as our field starts to really take shape,” said Marty Gorsich, CEO of the Century Club of San Diego. “He’s not only the top-ranked player in the world rankings, but he brings a ton of excitement because of the tremendous success he has experienced right here at Torrey Pines.”

Rahm joins a field that also includes 2021 PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson, 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and 2021 Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele. Past Farmers Insurance Open winners in the field include Marc Leishman (2020), Rahm (2017), Brandt Snedeker (2016, 2012), Scott Stallings (2014) and Ben Crane (2010).

The Torrey Pines Golf Courses run 7,765 and 7,258 and are both par 72. The purse for The Farmers Insurance Open is $8.4million.

No rival can compete with SuperSport’s coverage. Our viewers on DStv can see all their favourite golf stars dominating courses across the world.

Upgrade to DStv Premium to enjoy the PGA Live in HD only on SuperSport. Customers who upgrade to DStv Compact Plus from any other DStv package can enjoy a further upgrade to DStv Premium to watch the PGA Tour The Farmers Insurance Open at no extra cost. T&C’s apply.

The Farmers Insurance Open broadcast details

All times CAT

Wednesday 26 January

19:00: Day 1 – LIVE on SuperSport Grandstand and SuperSport Golf

Thursday 27 January

22:00: Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Grandstand and SuperSport Golf

Friday 28 January

22:00: Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf and SuperSport Grandstand (from 23:40)

Saturday 29 January

21:30: Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf and SuperSport Grandstand (from 22:00)