President Uhuru Kenyatta congfratulates Kenya’s top pro at the 2019 Magical Kenya Golf Championship, Simon ngige, who finished tied in 25th. He took home Kshs 1.2 million for his efforts.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

A superb birdie chip off the edge of the 18^th green saw Thika Golf Club’s Simon Ngige end his 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship campaign with a round of 69 for a tournament total of 5-under 279 to see him finish tied in 25^th.

He carded a total of 33 on the first nine courtesy of birdies at the par-3 second, the par-5, sixth and the par-4, seventh; with his only dropped shot at the first nine coming at the par-3 fourth. On the back nine, he shot a lone bogey at the par-5, 11^th and holed the incredible birdie at the 18^th to card a total of 36.

Speaking after the round, Ngige said he was pleased with his performance, adding that he now looks forward to playing at more tournaments.

“I had a lot of fun on the course and loved the fact that there were fans around me who made me feel comfortable. The golf course was in great shape and the wind wasn’t as severe as it has been through the week; so generally, it was a good day for me,” he said.

He added: “I am going to Zambia in a week for the Zambia Open then the Zimbabwe Open. I am driving well off the tee and I just need to practice on the green from Wednesday.

Speaking about the impact the 2018/19 Safari Tour Golf Series has had on local Pros, Ngige said: “The Safari Tour has been really good to us. For years, we have yearned for a Tour that engages us for a year; and now we have the Safari Tour which has tested us and pushed us out of our comfort zones. I look forward to playing at the 2019/2020 season of the tour.”

This was his best-ever finish at the Kenya Open Golf Championship for which he took home € 10,615 (equivalent to KShs 1.2 million).

Meanwhile, Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort’s Justus Madoya, ended the tournament with a round of 75 to leave him tied in 72^nd place with a total score of 4-over par 289.

Italian Guido Migliozzi kises the Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship trophy after he was crowned champion at the tournament.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Twenty two year old Italian professional golfer, Guido Migliozzi is the 2019 Magical Kenya Open winner. Migliozzi claimed the 2019 title after returning a score of 2 under par, 69 for round four to take his overall score to 14-under par 268.

For his efforts over the last four days of competition, Miglozzi pocketed a total of Euros 183,330 (Equivalent to over KShs. 20.5 Million). 

The Italian started his campaign at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open with a score of 4-under par after round one, following it up with a 2-under par score on Friday to successfully make the CUT to play at the weekend. It was at round three that the Italian turned on the style with an impressive 7-under par score to give him a share of the lead going into the final round.

Playing in the last group of the day, Migliozzi went toe to toe with fellow day three leader Adri Arnaus as well as Louis De Jager, Justin Harding, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Kalle Samooja, who all had a taste of the lead in the course of a thrilling final day, at the Karen Country Club.

The Italian had a shaky start to his round, dropping his first shot at the par-3, 4th, following this up with back to back birdies at the 6th & 7th. A further dropped shot at the 9th however saw him return a front nine score of par,35 for a three way tie at the top of the leader board. 

It was at the back nine, where the 22-year-old would prevail, starting off with a birdie on the par-4, 10th and another at the 12th to hold a one shot lead. At this point, the crowd and pressure was building up steadily, Miglozzi went on to show some steady nerves, to hold par in his last six holes to take the title.

Speaking after his round, Migliozzi expressed his joy in winning the tournament and relished the feeling of playing at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open.

“I enjoyed the last two days very much. The pressure was a lot and I’m happy about how I have played under pressure, also with my putting game that I worked a lot on. There was a lot of pressure on the course, obviously. After the birdie at the 12th I was leading but it was tough. I just kept patient towards the end, that was it.” He said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta helps Guido Migliozzi wear the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship winner’s jacket after the Italian was crowned champion at the tournament.

Commenting on his round on the day, “I just kept patient through the day and my second shot on the 18th was a very nice shot.”

“Yesterday I went to the left at the 18th with a two iron, today I went with a four iron, just to be sure that I don’t go left and I had the perfect distance for an eight iron, it was really nice. Easy two putts to win.” He said.

He concluded by thanking his team members “I would like to thank every part of my team.”

Migliozzi follows in the footsteps of Major Champions Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and Trevor Immelman in winning this tournament, and becomes the second consecutive Italian winner of the Kenya Open, after Lorenzo Gagli last year. 

Adri Arnaus, alongside South African duo of Justin Harding and Louis De Jager had to settle for joint second, a shot behind Migliozzi, on a score of 15-under par, 269. India’s Bhullar Gaganjeet finished a further shot behind on 14-over for a fifth place finish.

Kenya’s Simon Ngige finished as the best placed Kenyan, after playing a round of 2-under par on the day to take his total to 5-under par, 279, to see him tied for 25th, alongside the 2016 Kenya Open winner Sebastian Soderberg. The other Kenyan to have made the cut, Justus Madoya finished tied for 72nd, with an overall score of 5 over par, 289.

Meanwhile Scotland’s Robert Macintyre, shot an impressive round of 8-under par, 63, the best of the tournament, placing him tied for 17th on an overall score of 7-under par, 277. The 2018 winning Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn, was tied for 12th place on an overall score of 8-under par.