Winner Dismas Indiza poses at Karen Country Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Kenya’s Dismas Indiza beat Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi in a sudden death play-off after tying in the three-hole play-off, to clinch the final leg of the nine-events 2021 Safari Tour title at the Karen Country Club course on Wednesday.

Before the play off, Indiza and Chinhoi had tied with a tournament score of 14 under par 270, with Indiza having fired five under par 66 in the final round where Chinhoi shot two under par 69. For the long hitter Indiza, it was his birdie at the 17th hole to tie with Chinhoi, brought him back to the hunt for the top prize of Sh375,000 as the Zimbabwean parred the hole and at the 18th, for the two to go to the three hole play- off.

Earlier Indiza had birdied the second, sixth, and seventh, and at the 11th and 12th, and despite dropping the shot at the 14th his last birdie (17th) made all the difference. “I was not really worried about winning or losing this event. My aim was to get the pace for the Magical Kenya Open, and after the four rounds I think I am ready for the Open’’ said Indiza after the play-off.

Chinhoi on the other hand said playing in the Safari Tour had changed his game altogether and that he was also ready with the Magical Kenya Open. “I am hitting the ball very well though today’s game was not just an ordinary round. I felt a bit of pressure which is very normal in this game, but when all said and done, I am still very happy with my performance. I am also happy with Indiza who is a very experience player and he played well throughout the week but more or so today’’ said Chinhoi

Dismas Indiza receiving a dummy cheque after winning the latest Safari Golf Tour at Karen Club.

But back to the first three holes of play off, Chinhoi drove to the uppron on the usual 10th hole at Karen chipped well to birdie the hole with Indiza getting a par. The two then parred the second hole, but Indiza drove onto the green in the third hole where he won the hole with a par as Chinhoi chipped shot of the par to drop a shot, hence the sudden death hole where Indiza chipped from the left of the green to about a foot while the Zimbabwe missed, co concede the hole, giving Indiza his much needed victory after losing in another play off at Muthaiga Golf Club two weeks ago.

While Indiza took top prize plus 75 points towards the Order of Merit, Chinhoi, a winner of three Safari Tour events including the Uganda Open, pocketed Sh250,000 and 71 points in the Order of Merit. Meanwhile Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige shot one under par 70 to finish third with an all rounds total of eight under par 276. In his round, Ngige made four birdies and dropped two shots for the day. In fourth place was Nigeria’s Andrew Odoh who also shot one under par 70 for a total of five under par 279. Odoh got 64 points which pushed him to second place among the foreign players in the Order of Merit hence

he has qualified for the Magical Kenya Open along with Chinhoi. The third slot among the foreign players is likely to go one of the two Ugandas Deo Akope or Philip Kasozi.

The final leader board:

Dismas Indiza 270 (67, 69, 65, 66)

Robson Chinhoi (Zim) 270 (67, 69, 65, 69)

Simon Ngige 276 (69, 71, 66, 70)

Andrew Odoh (Nig) 279 (66, 70, 73, 70)

Visitor Mapwanya(Zim) 280 (68, 73, 70, 69)

David Wakhu 283 (69, 72, 72, 70)

John Wangai 285 (68, 72, 69, 76)

Riz Charania 286 (69, 73, 71, 73)

Mohit Mediratta (right) with Dismas Indiza at Muthaiga Golf Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Sigona Golf Club’s Mohit Mediratta today beat the long hitting Dismas Indiza by one hole in a three-hole play-off, to claim the eighth leg of the 2020/2021 Safari Tour golf series at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course.

And as Mediratta himself said, it was a huge relief for him, winning his first tournament in his three and year pro career, but very interesting also winning in a dramatic finish.

The two players had tied on three under par 281 at the end of regulation play with Mediratta having shot level par 71 while Indiza who had started the day ahead of Mediratta and Zambia’s Dayne Moore, posting one over par 72, to also wind up with 281.

During the play off which started at the par three-13th, Mediratta spinned the ball back to about four feet from the pin, for an easy birdie while Indiza who was on the top right of the short rough, pitched closely though missed the birdie, to settle for a par.

Whilst Mediratta played safe at the par four-17th, Indiza drove to the water next the green though he chipped well, for a well deserved par to share the hole with Mediratta who also parred

Mohit Mediratta at the 18th hole, Muthaiga Golf Club.

It was at the par five-18th where Indiza who missed the green on two, chipped on but missed the birdie which would have squared the hole with Mediratta who also missed his birdie for a par which is all he needed to win the tournament.

“I am extremely delighted winning my first tournament though I must my putter was very cold today as I only my first birdie in the play off though the eagle at the 18th kind of assured me and gave me the confidence that I was going to win the tournament’’ said Mediratta who had bogeyed the eighth and 12th, then hit his driver to the left trees where he however hit solid low seven iron and sank the putt for his eagle.

“I am looking for a back to back win at Karen next week which will definitely put me into the Magical Kenya Open next month’’ added Mediratta who The

On the other hand, took home Sh100,000 plus Sh30,000 he won in the Pro-Am. Though he did not win at Muthaiga, Indiza said he was happy with his performance during the week. It was however the first nine where he appeared to have lost the tournament as he picked up four bogeys at the first, fifth, seventh at the ninth with only one birdie at the fourth. He however fired in an eagle at the 10th and birdied the last hole though with a bogey at the 12th hole. Meanwhile Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi fired

five under par 65 to move to finish in third place on two under par 282, just a shot better than Zambia’s Dayne Moore who carded level par 71 for one under par 283.

He made a total of six birdies against one bogey, to take the third cash prize of Sh80,000 and 45 points towards the “Road to Karen”. The action now shift to Karen Country Club for the final leg of the series which will determine the top 12 kenyans and the three visiting players making a total of 15 players into the Kenya Open.

The final leader board:

1. Mohit Mediratta 281 (69, 72, 69, 71)
2. Dismas Indiza 281 (72, 65, 72, 72)
3. Robson Chinhoi (Zim) 282 (73, 67, 76, 66)
4. Dayne Moore(Zam) 283 (70, 70, 72, 71)
5. Simon Ngige 286 (72, 70, 72, 72)
6. Greg Snow 287 (74, 69, 75, 69)

             Tony Omuli 287 (74, 67, 72, 74)

      8. Nyasha Muyambo(Zim) 288 (75, 71, 68, 74)

         John Wangai 288 (71, 70, 73, 74)