Golf Park’s Tony Omuli poses with the Safari Tour Golf Series trophy after winning the Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s leg of the Tour.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Golf Park’s Pro Golfer, Tony Omuli, claimed his first-ever Safari Tour Golf Series win at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club leg of the Tour after he defeated homeboy Eric Ooko in a three-hole playoff that was played after 72 holes.

Having finished their four-round challenge tied at 3-over par 291 scores at the top of the leaderboard, both embarked on the playoff at the par-4, 10^th, the par-4 11^th and the par-4, 18^th holes; setting a stage for a grand finish to the tournament.

At the 10^th, both got off to a par before proceeding to the 11^th where Omuli held par as Ooko holed a bogey. At the 18^th, Ooko’s second shot bounced off a tree to land on the fairway while Omuli found the middle of the fairway with his second. They both missed birdie chances on the green, but it was Omuli who carried the day having held par as Ooko dropped yet another shot.

Earlier in the day, Tony had carded a round of 72 to match his round from yesterday; seeing him cement his 3-over par 291 score. On his part, Ooko had a less-than-ideal day, posting a 5-over par 77 score, in the process eroding the tremendous effort he had made yesterday to post an identical score as Omuli.

Speaking after the round, Omuli said that he was delighted with the result, adding that it adds impetuous to his Safari Tour challenge for the remainder of the season.

Golf Park’s Tony Omuli in action on the final round of the Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s leg of the Safari Tour Golf Series.

“I am extremely happy to have my first Safari Tour victory. It has been a long time coming and I think it comes at the right time just as we are getting into the thick of things in this year’s Safari Tour calendar. I believe that this will give me enough motivation to challenge for the top position in the remaining legs of the series,” he said.

On his part, Ooko expressed disappointment for the missed opportunity to win his first Safari Tour victory at his home club, but remained satisfied with his best-ever finish at the Safari Tour.

“I am gutted with my performance today as it’s clear that I lost a chance to record my first Safari Tour win. I am, however, encouraged with the performance and look forward to similar performances in subsequent events,” he said.

For his efforts, Omuli took home KShs 105,000 in prize money while Ooko bagged KShs 70,000. Meanwhile, Mohit Mediratta and Simon Ngige ended their campaign at the tournament tied in second having posted 4-over par 292 scores; taking home Kshs 54,250 apiece.

The trio of Njuguna Ngugi, Riz Charania and Johnnie-Walker-Sponsored Dismas Indiza posted 5-over par 293 scores seeing them end the tournament tied in fifth and taking home KShs 45,500 each. Nyali’s Dennis Nduva took the amateur silver salver having ended the tournament as the highest ranked elite amateur at the tournament.

For the second time this season, the Safari Tour featured two lady golfers taking part in the main tournament – amateur Naomi Wafula and lady pro golfer, Bhavi Shah who both missed the cut but put up a decent fight over the first two rounds – pointing to the growing interest among professional and elite amateur lady golfers in the tournament.

Action in the 2019-2020 Safari Tour Golf Series returns in Entebbe, Uganda at the Entebbe Open from the 30^th of October to the 2^nd of November 2019. The series is sponsored by both Magical Kenya and Absa.

Additional Information:

Safari Tour Calendar 2019/20

Event 1 Nyali Golf and Country Club 24th – 28th August 2019 (DONE)

Event 2 Uganda Open (Lake Victoria Serena) 10th – 14th September 2019 (DONE)

Event 3 Royal Nairobi Golf Club 12th – 16th October 2019 (DONE)

Event 4 Entebbe Open (Entebbe Golf Club) 30th Oct – 2nd Nov 2019

Event 5 Great Rift Valley Golf Club 23rd – 27th November 2019

Event 6 Muthaiga Golf Club 14th – 18th December 2019

Event 7 Thika Greens 4th – 8th January 2020

Event 8 Sigona Golf Club 25th – 29th January 2020

Event 9 Kitante Open (Uganda Golf Club) 12th – 15th February 2020

Event 10 Karen Country Club 22nd -26th February 2020

Event 11 Tanzania Open (Kiligolf) TBC

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

Royal Nairobi Golf club’s Eric Ooko in previous action.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Royal Nairobi Golf club’s Erick Ooko rediscovered his fine form on round three of his home leg of the Safari Tour Golf Series on Tuesday, carding a round leading score of 3-under par 69, to see him tied at the top of the leaderboard alongside Thika Golf Club’s Simon Ngige – who shot a round of 2 over par.

Ooko, who had a share of the lead after round one before crumbling in the second round, recovered superbly today to make the most of the overnight leader’s slip up. The home pro started his round in strong fashion, hitting two birdies in the opening five holes while holding par through the rest, he then hit a bogey on the par-3 sixth, before recovering immediately with a birdie on the 7th to wrap up his front nine with another bogey on the ninth for a 1-under par score.

His conservative approach in the second nine paid off as he hit two birdies – at the par-5,15th and par-4,18th – while holding par through the rest of the holes to return a round score of 3-under par 69.

Speaking after his round, Ooko expressed his delight in getting his form back after yesterday’s slip up as he looked forward to the final round, “I needed to play well today, especially after yesterday. I am happy with my performance and look forward to an even better showing tomorrow.” 

On his part Simon Ngige played a round of 2 over par, 74, after a double bogey on the par-3 13th, which he failed to recover from. The duo sits five shots ahead of the chasing pack, led by Golf Park’s Tony Omuli who played a round of par to take his gross score to 3 over par, 219, one shot ahead of Johnnie Walker sponsored Dismas Indiza who has had a slow tournament so far.

Kennedy Abuto and Amateur Daniel Nduva are tied in 5th place on gross scores of 5 over par, 221, the quartet of Golf Park’s David Wakhu, Sigona Golf Club’s Mohit Mediratta, Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Keneth Bollo and Windsor Golf Club’s Riz Charania sit tied in 7th place, on 6 over par, 222.

Action in the final round will tee off at 8:30 AM, with the winner of the third leg of the 2019/20 Safari tour, set to be crowned at around 2:00 PM. 

The 2019/2020 Safari Tour Golf Series is proudly sponsored by Magical Kenya and Absa.

Additional Information:

Safari Tour Calendar 2019/20

Event 1 Nyali Golf and Country Club 24th – 28th August 2019 (DONE)

Event 2 Uganda Open (Lake Victoria Serena) 10th – 14th September 2019 (DONE)

Event 3 Royal Nairobi Golf Club 12th – 16th October 2019

Event 4 Entebbe Open (Entebbe Golf Club) 30th Oct – 2nd Nov 2019

Event 5 Great Rift Valley Golf Club 23rd – 27th November 2019

Event 6 Muthaiga Golf Club 14th – 18th December 2019

Event 7 Thika Greens 4th – 8th January 2020

Event 8 Sigona Golf Club 25th – 29th January 2020

Event 9 Kitante Open (Uganda Golf Club) 12th – 15th February 2020

Event 10 Karen Country Club 22nd -26th February 2020

Event 11 Tanzania Open (Kiligolf) TBC

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