Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow poses with the trophy after winning the first leg of the 2019-20 Safari tour hosted at the Nyali Golf & Country Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Muthaiga Golf Club’s pro golfer, Greg Snow, played a decent round of 73 on the final day of the Nyali Golf and Country Club leg of the Safari Tour Golf Series, to card an overall score of 3-over par 287; seeing him emerge winner of the first event of the 2019/2020 calendar.

Snow, who got off to a shaky start at the tournament by carding a round of 74, held his nerve and found groove through the rounds to claim the top spot after today’s final round.

He started off the final round by carding a total of 38 on the first nine courtesy of dropped shots at the par-4, second; the par-3, sixth and the par-4, ninth with the only birdie coming at the par-5t, fifth. On the back nine, he carded a total of 35 having dropped shots at the par-3, 10^th; the par-4, 14^th; and the par-4, 16^th and having made a birdie at the par-5, 11^th and an eagle-three at the 17^th.

Speaking after the round, Snow said he was delighted with the win adding that the was happy with the recovery work that he put into the second and third rounds which lifted his scores.

“I am happy with the win here as it has been a very tough outing, not just for me, but for everyone who was involved over the last four days. I am particularly pleased with my performance over the last two rounds as they ensured that I increased my chances of winning the event. Today’s round was challenging, but I am glad that I only went over by two shots – which wasn’t a terrible outcome in the end.”

He added: “Focus now shifts to the next Safari Tour event in Uganda, where I am hoping to challenge for the top honours there as well.”

With this win, Snow now has a total of four Safari Tour victories; and having taken top prize money in five occasions.

On his part, Nyali’s pro golfer, Njuguna Ngugi, who impressed in the third round to post the lowest score of the tournament, struggled on the final day to card a round of 79; a 13-shot turnaround from yesterday’s score of 66. This took his overall for the tournament to 7-over par 291, which was enough to see him secure second spot – underpinning the difficulty of the course and the conditions that met the players.

On the first nine, he carded a total of 41 courtesy of a bogey at the first, a double bogey at the second and bogeys at the sixth, seventh and ninth holes. On the back nine, he carded a total of 38 with bogeys at the 10^th, 12^th and the 17^th holes.  His second-place finish is however his highest finish yet at a Safari Tour event.

Last year’s Safari Tour winner in Nyali, David Wakhu, ended his campaign at the tournament with a round of 75, taking his total for the tournament to 8-over par 292; which was enough to secure third place. Wakhu, who also led his Pro-Am team to victory on Saturday, had a decent outing at the event, having not carded higher than 75 in any round; and posting the joint lowest score of 69 on round two.

For their efforts, the trio took home Kshs 105,000, Kshs 70,000 and Kshs 56,000 in prizemoney respectively; but failed to secure bonus prize money as none finished the tournament with an under-par score. In addition to his third-place finish prize money, Wakhu also walks away with KShs 30,000 being winnings for leading his team to Pro-Am victory at the tournament.

Nyali’s elite amateur, Daniel Nduva, impressed to finish tied in fourth place, alongside Pro Erick Obura, to win the tournament’s Silver Salver having been the only amateur to make the cut.

The 2019/2020 Safari Tour Golf Series season continues at the Uganda Open from the 10^th to the 14^th of September this year.

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

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

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

Event 5 Rwanda Open (Kigali Golf Club) 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.

Nyali Golf and Country Club’s resident Pro, Njuguna Ngugi, in action at a previous Safari Tour event. He tops the leader board at the 2019_2020 Nyali leg of the Safari Tour Golf Series going into the final round.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Nyali Golf & Country Club’s resident professional, Njuguna Ngugi, shot an impressive round of 5-under par, 66 today, to storm to the top of the leaderboard, after the third round of his home leg of the Safari Tour.

Ngugi, who had played a round of 69 yesterday, placing him two shots behind the overnight leaders, returned a blemish free card after round three, to give him a two shot lead heading into the final round of play, tomorrow.

The resident professional, started his round with a birdie on the Par-3 first, before holding par through the rest of the front nine. It was at the back nine that Ngugi got into his grove, with back to back birdies on the Par-3 tenth and Par-5 11th, he would hit further birdies at the 13th and 17th, with par scores in the rest of the holes, to card the best score of the round and the tournament so far.

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow, moved into second place,after returning a round score of 3-under par, 68, to take his total tally to one over par, 214.

Playing from the same group as Ngugi, Snow started off in imperious form, hitting two birdies in the opening three holes, then holding par through the rest of the front nine. A dropped shot at the Par-4 12th, however saw his chances of catching up with Ngugi, having to settle for second place both in the round and on the leader board.

Speaking after his round, Ngugi was delighted with his display and looked forward to another great performance in the final round.

“I felt great out there today, I played well, almost everything worked out perfectly, I am looking forward to more of the same, tomorrow.”

The overnight leading trio of David Wakhu, Alfred Nandwa and Dennis Saikwa were separated by one shot, with Saikwa playing a round of one over par 72, while his counterparts returned identical scores of 2-over par.

Saikwa now sits in 3rd on an overall score of 3-over par 216, one ahead of Wakhu and Nandwa who are T4, heading into the final round.

Amateur Daniel Nduva, kept his great form going, after returning a score of 3-under par 68 for the round, to see him move to T6 on an overall score of 7-over par, 220, alongside Erik Ooko, who carded 1-under par for the round.

Final round action, will tee off tomorrow at 8:00 AM, with the duo of Kennedy Abuto and Justus Madoya getting this underway.

Safari Tour Calendar 2019/20:

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

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

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

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

Event 5 Rwanda Open (Kigali Golf Club) 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.