Mumias Sugar-based Dismas Indiza tees-off on day three of the Safari Tour Golf Series at the Nyali Golf Club.

By AMANDA DAMARIS

Kenya’s veteran golf professional, Dismas Indiza charged into the lead of the Safari Tour after an impressive five-under par score in Round Three. Indiza stated his intention early, posting a birdie on the open par-5 1st and an eagle on the par-four seventh. His only blemish on the opening nine was a bogey on the tough dogleg left par-4 fourth. On the back nine, Indiza posted early birdies on the 10th, 11th and 15th holes, made a sand save on the 16th but dropped an unnecessary shot on the easy par-5 17th after hitting his drive right off the tee. Indiza finished with an easy par on uphill par-3 18th.

With this performance, Indiza equalled the Nyali Golf and Country Club course record of 5-under. He is now 1-under par for the tournament and 4-strokes ahead of Eric Ooko.

Speaking after his round, Indiza said he was happy with his results. “It is easy to count the ones that didn’t go in, but overall I am happy with my round. I was swinging well, and the weather conditions were favourable for low scoring,” he said. “If the conditions remain the same tomorrow, I will make another attempt at that course record.”

Indiza is the only player under par after three rounds and is on course to pick up the bonus for returning a 4-round under par score.

Royal’s Eric Ooko played steady in Round-3, playing level through the first nine with a birdie on the first and bogey on the 6th hole; on the back nine, he made 8-pars and a lone bogey on the par-4 12th. Ooko now trails Indiza by 4-strokes going into the final round.

Windsor’s Riz Charania remained composed through Round-3 posting birdies on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th holes; however, he lost his swing and made back to back bogeys on the closing four holes of the front nine. On the back nine, Riz made one birdie on the par-5 11th but dropped two shots on the 13th and 16th holes to finish 2-over for the round and 6-over for the tournament on a total of 219.

Safari Tour Calendar 2018/19:

Event 1 – Nyali Golf & CC – 18 – 22 August

Event 2 – Vet Lab SC – 1 – 5 Sept

Event 3 – Limuru Country Club – 27 – 31 October

Event 4 – Thika Greens- 10 – 14 November

Event 5 – Karen Country Club – 15 – 19 December

Event 6 – Muthaiga Golf Club – 12 – 16 Jan

Event 7 – SAFARI TOUR CLASSIC – FEBRUARY – Venue TBC.

Total Prize Money per event: KES 1 Million.

Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Eric Ooko follows the course of his tee shot on day two of the Safari Tour at the Nyali Golf Club today.

By AMANDA DAMARIS

Royal’s Eric Ooko posted a score of two-over par gross 73 in Round-2 of the inaugural Safari Tour event at the Nyali Golf and Country Club. Playing in rainy conditions, Ooko birdied the 1st, 3rd and 5th holes but he dropped a shot on the par-4 6th and made a double bogey on the par-4 7th. On the back nine, Ooko made a lone birdie on the par-4 12th but dropped shots on the 10th, 16th and 18th holes to finish two-over. With this score, Ooko maintained his lead after Round-2 with half the field recorded.

Windsor’s Rizwan Charania posted a two-over score of 73, identical to his Round-1 score. Speaking after his round, Charania said he his round came undone by three of Nyali’s toughest holes – the par-4 2nd, the par-3 3rd and par-4 4th. “The second is tough dogleg left, the tee shot is through a tight gap; the third is an equally tough short hole and the fourth is the hardest hole at Nyali,” he said. “Nevertheless, I found the putting surface on all three holes but unfortunately 3-putted each one of them.”

Charania made birdies on the 1st, 15th and 17th holes.

Dismas Indiza had a mixed second round, making birdies two birdies on the front nine on the 1st and 9th holes. He followed these with three back to back birdies on the 11th, 12th and 17th holes; however, he dropped shots on the 2nd, 4th, 10th, 15th and 16th holes and an ugly double on the par-3 3rd. Indiza’s finished 1-over gross 72 and is now tied in second place with Charania and two shots behind Ooko.

Only the top-20 professionals will make the CUT to play into Round-3 and Round-4 and compete for the total prize fund of Sh1m.

Leader Board (as at 1630pm):

1.Eric Ooko – 144

T2. Riz Charania – 146

T2. Dismas Indiza – 146

T4. Kopan Timbe – 148

T4. Greg Snow – 148

6. Ngugi Njuguna – 149

7. Ganeev Giddie – 151

T8. Willam Kaguta (amateur) – 153

T8. Adel Balala (amateur) – 153

10. George Munyao (amateur) – 154

T11. John Kisia – 157

T11. Temi Katembo (amateur) – 157

T11. Nelson Mudanyi – 157