Robson Chinhoi celebrates after sinking his putter to beat Dismas Indiza in a play-off.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Zimbabwe’s leading professional Robson Chinhoi beat Kenya’s most known professional Dismas Indiza in a three hole play- off, to claim the seventh leg of the 2021/2022 Safari Tour series at the par 72 Karen Country Club course today.

At the end of regulation play, the two leading pros had tied on a total of 12 under par 276. Indiza, the only player in the tournament to play under par in all the four rounds, missed birdie chances in the first two holes of the play off (10^th, 11^th, then at the 12^th, he had a chance to level with the Zimbabwean, but missed the putt for a par, to lose to Chinhoi with a par.

“I am very happy to have made it to the top. I didn’t think I would manage to go beyond fourth place’’ said Indiza who shot two under par 70 in the final round, to catch up with Chinhoi on 12 under par.

Robinson Chinhoi kisses the winner’s prize at Karen today.

The Zimbabwean had dropped a couple of shots in the final round, to finish on one over par 76. He won Sh274,211 while Indza because of his under par scores, took home a total of Sh191,579.

Indiza also leads in the “Road to Magical Kenya Open’’ now with a total of 324 points while Chinhoi leads the regional players with 311, with Visitor Mapwanya and Uganda’s Deo Akope a neck and neck for the second slot having scored 118 and 116 points.

Meanwhile Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige who had led in the first round, dropped to third place on 277 after a level par 72 in the closing round where he was a shot better than Mapwanya who carded four over par 76 to wind up in fourth place on 278.

Action now switches to the home of golf Muthaiga Golf Club this coming Sunday where the par 71 course which is also hosting the Magical Kenya Open, will stage the eighth leg in the series.

The final leader board:

Robson Chinhoi (Zim) 69, 67, 67, 73= 276*

Dismas Indiza 70, 68, 68, 70= 276

Simon Ngige 66, 66, 73, 72= 277

Visitor Mapwanya(Zim) 68, 64, 70, 76= 278

Greg Snow 74, 69, 70, 70= 283

Nyasha Muyambo (Zim) 72, 69, 69, 73= 283

Sunday Olapade(Nig) 71, 67, 73, 74- 285

Sydney Wemba(Zam) 68, 70, 70, 77=285

Visitor Mapwanya follows his tee shot at Karen Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Zimbabwean professional Visitor Mapwanya finally pulled away from the rest of the field after posting two under par 70 at the par 72 Karen Country Club course, going into Wednesday’s final round of the 2021/2022 Safari Tour series.

He picked eight pars at the front nine where he however dropped a shot at the 433-yard long par four-fourth after a bad approach shot. He then birdied the 10^th, 12^th, and 14th hole, for a 14 under par 202, to take a one-shot lead from his countryman Robson Chinhoi.

“I do still think I have a good chance to win my first Safari Tour title despite having missed several birdie opportunities in the third round. All the same, it was nice playing with Simon Ngige who I have played with before, and of course, Robson Chinhoi who is a very good player’’ said Mapwanya who will once again lead the team of Chinhoi and Ngige in the final round.

On the other hand, Chinhoi who made five birdies at the back nine including a two-footer at the 18^th said he had moved closer to the title. “I would not mind though if Mapwanya or Ngige wins because they are very playful, but I will still give it my best’’ said Chinhoi after his birdie on the 18^th. He birdied one hole at the outward nine’s fourth hole, then collected birdies at the 11^th and 12^th 15^th and 16^th, and of course at the home green, for the day’s five-under-par 67 and a total of 13 under par 203.

It was not a good day for Ngige who said that his driving was not as perfect as he had planned. “I dropped three shots at the front nine because of my tee shots particularly at the third where I pushed to the left, got out well then hit it to the bunker having made a birdie at the second, then came the two bogeys at the seventh and eighth’’ said Ngige.

He however said he will still go for the title in Wednesday’s final round. “It is not over yet, as I believe I am capable of pushing myself to the top if I am able to take off well from the tee tomorrow’’ said Ngige who bogeyed the 15^th but made a bogey at the 18^th for one over 73 and an aggregate of 11 under par 203 which was just a shot better than Dismas Indiza who shot four-under-par 68 to move to fourth place on 10 under par 206.

At least 12 players were on under-par scores at the close of round three, an indication of a tough encounter during the final day. The winner depending on the scores, at least the winner is assured of Sh250,000. There will be added bonus money if the winner scores all under-par scores in each round.

The leader board after Round Three:

Visitor Mapwanya (Zim) 68, 64, 70= 202

Robson Chinhoi Zim) 69, 67, 67= 203

Simon Ngige 66, 66.73= 205

Dismas Indiza 70, 68, 68= 206

Sydney Wemba 68, 70, 70= 208

Mohit Mediratta 67, 75, 68= 210

Nyasha Muyambo (Zim) 72, 69, 69= 210

Daniel Nduva 71, 68, 71= 210

Sunday Olapade (Nig) 71, 67, 73= 211.