Greg Snow in action during round one of the Karen leg of the Safari Tour.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow, shot an impressive round of 2-under par 69 at the Karen Country Club leg of the Safari Tour golf series to take the lead after Round One of the tournament.

The recently crowned Safari Tour overall winner, got off to a slow start, picking up a bogey on the par-4, third before recovering with back to back birdies on the par-4, fifth and the par-5, sixth for a turning score of 34, having held par on the other five holes. He looked to be on course for a score of 34, after hitting a birdie at the 12th, before he dropping a shot at the par-4 18th , for a back nine score of 35.

Speaking after the round, Snow expressed his satisfaction with his overall performance in the round and looked forward to more of the same in the next rounds.

“I am pleased with my performance today, the course is in great shape and quite challenging with the narrow greens. I am now working towards keeping this form going in the coming rounds.” he said.

Great Rift Golf Club’s Justus Madoya and amateur Daniel Nduva returned impressive scores of one under par on the round to tie for second place. Madoya birdied the Par-3, second and par-5 sixth before bogeying at the par-4, third and par-3 fourth in the first nine, he played an impressive round of 35 in the back nine to return an overall score of one under par, 70. Nduva started off with a bogey at the first but quickly settled with four birdies in the first nine to return a score of 32, the best of the round. Further bogeys at the tenth, fifteenth and sixteenth holes saw him return a back nine score of 38 for a round total of one under par, 70

The trio of David Opati, Simon Ngige and Anil Shah returned scores of par, 71 to tie for third, Mumias Sugar’s Dismas Indiza had a round to forget, returning a score of 3-over par, 74 placing him T16, one shot behind Windsor’s Rizwan Charania (T13).

Meanwhile, Golf Park’s Joseph Karanja led his team to victory at the PRO-AM event of the Karen Country Club leg of the Safari Tour Golf Series yesterday after returning a score of 39 to combine with his team’s best amateur score of 44 for a total of 83.

His team’s efforts were enough to fend off the challenge posed by the team of Muthaiga Golf Club’s Kopan Timbe who returned a score of 38 on the day to combine with his team’s best amateur score to finish second. Meanwhile, Golf Park’s Tony Omuli returned a decent score of 36 to combine with his team’s best amateur score to finish in third.

In the subsequent members event, Vet Lab’s Alice Kariuki (handicap 22) emerged overall winner with 39 points; while Karen Country Club’s Eunice Maranya (handicap 16) was overall runner-up with 38 points. Karen Country Club’s James Ngotho (handicap 07) emerged third overall with 38 points.

The tournament, which attracted a field of over 170 golfers, was played under the course layout that will be adopted at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship, giving local pros an opportunity to acclimatize to the course ahead of the tournament.

Road to the Karen Masters first leg winner Sabo Kalsi (left) and
KCB Bank Kenya Unit Head Public sector Mr. Musa Mohammed (right).

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Sabo Kalsi over the weekend displayed awesome skills to win the first leg of KCB “Road to the Masters’’ series at he Par 72 Sigona Golf Club.

Playing off handicap 20, the home golfer shot an impressive 41 points made up of 21 points in the first nine and 20 at the back nine, to beat a huge field of 204 players.

On his way up, Kalsi sank in two birdies on holes 2 and 10, parred holes 9 and 17 and bogeyed the rest.

“I bogeyed a number of holes but the few pars and birdies I made really helped me a lot. I am honored to have qualified to take part at the Pro-Am tournament. Thanks to the Masters Series for nurturing amateur golfers by giving us this opportunity to play alongside top Kenyan professional golfers with the Sunshine Tour golf series,” said Sabo.

In winning the opening round, Kalsi leads the first batch of six qualifiers to the two day KCB Karen Masters Pro-Am events slated for 25th-26th of June 2019.

Other qualifiers from Sigona were men winner Ishwar Aldasani (H24), guest winner Lee Mungai (H22), staff winner Ogola Azu (H26) who is also the KCB Bank Kenya HR Business partner and lady winner Milka Mburu playing off handicap 26.

The sixth qualifier from the Club was Jolly Esmail who becomes the first player in this year’s series to win the wildcard. The wildcard slot was decided from a lucky dip conducted on all the score cards returned by the playing field.

The KCB Karen Masters will be held after the two Pro-Ams from the 27th- 30th of June 2019.
KCB Bank Kenya Unit Head-Public Sector Mr. Musa Mohammed lauded the golfers for the huge turnout adding that: “KCB is committed towards the development of golf in the region. We wish all the qualifiers all the best in the Pro-Am of the KCB Karen Masters’ tournament later in the year.”

The next round of the Road to the Masters heads the Nyali Golf and Country Club on March 30.

The Nyali tour will feature professional players who will compete for a prize fund of Ksh 2million for the next four legs.

KCB Road to The Masters 2019:

Round 1- Sigona Golf Club ( February 25.)-Amateurs only

Round 2-Nyali Golf & Country Club (March 30)

Round 3 -Thika Sports Club ( Apri13)

Round 4-Nakuru Golf Club (May 11)

Round 5-  Royal Nairobi Golf Club (June 15 )

KCB Karen Masters -Karen Courtry Club (June 25-30)

Qualifiers from Sigona:
1. Overall Winner -Sabo Kalsi (Handicap 20)

2. Men’s Winner -Ishwar Aldasani (Handicap 24)

3. Lady winner – Milka Mburu (Handicap 26)

4. Guest Winner -Lee Mungai (Handicap 22)

5. Staff Winner- Azu Ogolla (handicap 26)

6. Jolly Esmail (wildcard)-picked from a lucky dip of score cards