Great Rift Valley Lodge’s Justus Madoya in action at a previous Safari Tour event.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort’s Justus Madoya stormed to the Entebbe Open leaderboard with a 6-under par 136 score after 36 holes; establishing a three-shot lead with two rounds left to play.

He shot a superb round of 66 courtesy of six birdies and a lone bogey on his card to set the perfect charge for the outright bragging rights at the tournament. On the first nine, he got off to consecutive birdies at the par-5 first and the par-3 second before holing another birdie at the par-3, sixth; with his only dropped shot of the round coming at the par-4 ninth for a total of 33. On the back nine, he played bogey-free, holing birdies at the par-4, 14^th and the par-5 15^th before sinking his last birdie of the round at the par-4 17^th for a back nine total of 33.

He went three shots clear of Ugandan Herman Mutaawe and yesterday’s leader, Robson Chinhoi from Zimbabwe, who finished the round tied in second with 3-under par 139 scores. Mutaawe shot a round of 69 courtesy of birdies at the par-3 sixth, par-5 11^th, par-3 12^th, par-5, 15^th and the par-5 18^th. He however dropped shots at the par-3 second, the par-3 16^th and the par-4 17^th.

On his part, Chinhoi had a difficult day on course; holing a lone birdie on the first nine and dropping five shots – and failing to make a single birdie – on the back nine for a score of 4-over par 75 for the day.

Madoya in action at a previous Safari Tour event.

On his part, C.J. Wangai ended the round in fourth courtesy of a 1-under par 70 round that took his total for the tournament to 1-under par 141. He had a decent outing – carding 33 on the first nine courtesy of birdies at the par-5 first, par-4. Sixth and the par-5 seventh and a lone bogey at the par-3 sixth. On the back nine, he dropped shots at the par-5 11^th, par-3 16^th and the par-5 18^th; but birdies at the par-4 14^th and the par-4 17^th saw him card a back nine total of 37.

Wangai finished the round one shot clear of Kopan Timbe, who ended yesterday’s round as the leading Kenyan at the tournament. Timbe had a tough day on the course; holing a solo birdie on the first nine at the par-5 seventh but sinking four bogeys for a first nine total of 38. On the back nine, he carded an identical score after he dropped four shots and holed only two birdies to finish the day with a level-par 142 score after the two rounds.

Meanwhile, 23 players, among them 11 Kenyans, made the Cut – which was today set at 6-over par – to play in the remaining final rounds. Justus Madoya, C.J. Wangai, Kopan Timbe, David Wakhu, Johnnie-Walker-Sponsored duo of Greg Snow and Dismas Indiza, Erick Ooko, Tony Omuli, Hesbon Kutwa, Kenneth Bollo and Edwin Mudanyi are the 11 Kenyans who made the cut to play in the tournament’s remaining 36 holes.

Kenneth Bollo

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Kopan Timbe shot an impressive round of 66 on the par 71 Entebbe Golf Club to emerge the leading Kenyan after 18 holes of the of the Entebbe Open – which is part of the 2019/2020 Safari Tour Golf Series. His decent 5-under par score saw him end the round tied in second alongside Ugandan Silvia Opiyo; setting the stage for a thrilling final three days at the tournament.

He played a bogey-free first nine, holing consecutive birdies at the par-3 sixth and the par-5 seventh to card a total of 33. On the back nine, he dropped a lone shot at the par-3 12^th but birdies at the par-5 11^th and the par-5 15^th, as well as an excellent eagle at the par5 18^th, saw him card an identical 33.

Kenneth Bollo was the second-highest ranked Kenya in fourth with a 2-under par 61 score. His scorecard was a thing of beauty; holing birdies at the 10^th and 12^th and having not dropped a single shot all day. He finished ahead of Great Rift Valley Golf Resort’s Jastas Madoya who ended his round one challenge tied in fifth – alongside Ugandan Herman Mutaawe – at 1-under par 70.

On the first nine, Madoya carded a total of 37 courtesy of a double bogey at the second; and bogeys at the fourth and ninth holes – having made birdie at the first and seventh holes. On the back nine, he made amends with four birdies at the 13^th, 14^th, 15^th and 18^th; and only dropping a shot at the 17^th hole.

The trio of Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Safari Tour winner Tony Omuli, Sigona Golf Club’s C J Wangai and Johnnie-Walker Sponsored Greg Snow all ended the day tied in seventh at level-par 71 scores. The trio finished just ahead of the duo of Jeff Kubwa and David Wakhu who tied in 11^th alongside Ugandan Deo Akope at 1-ober par 72 scores.

Meanwhile, Robson Chinhoi from Zimbabwe emerged overnight leader having carded a round of 64 to go two shots clear of Kopan Timbe going into the second round. On first nine, he played blemish-free, holing birdies at the first, third, seventh, eighth and ninth to card a total of 30. On the back nine, he dropped a lone shot at the 12^th; but holed birdies at the 11^th, 15^th and 18^th for a total of 34.

Action in Round Two of the Entebbe Open resumes tomorrow at 8:00am.

Safari Tour Calendar 2019/20

Event 1 Nyali Golf and Country Club 24th – 28th August 2019 (Winner: Greg Snow)

Event 2 Uganda Open (Lake Victoria Serena) 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

Event 5 Lake Serena Golf Resort Open (Lake Serena Golf Resort) 6th – 9th November 2019

Event 6 Great Rift Valley Golf Club 23rd – 27th November 2019

Event 7 Muthaiga Golf Club 14th – 18th December 2019

Event 8 Thika Greens 4th – 8th 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

Event 12 Tanzania Open (Kiligolf) TBC

2019 Magical Kenya Open, Karen Country Club, 12^th – 15^th March 2020.