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

Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Eric Ooko follows his tee shot during Round One of the Safari Tour Golf Tournament at the Nyali Golf Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Erick Ooko returned a level par score of 71 gross at the Nyali Golf and Country Club to lead the event after Round One today. Ooko opened his round with a birdie on the relatively easy dogleg left par-5 but quickly lost the advantage on the tough par-4 2^nd hole. He birdied the par-5 5^th hole and bogeyed the par-4 8^th to finish level par – 36 on the opening nine.

On the back nine, Ooko dropped shots on the downhill par-3 10^th and par-4 13^th; he birdied the par-5 11^th and the par-5 17^th to complete his back nine on level par – 35 for a total of 71. Speaking after his round Ooko said he was happy with the conditions of the golf course. “Nyali have presented an excellent championship course, the greens are putting true and the fairways are firm and fast,” he said. “I will try and pick up a few more birdies tomorrow and keep my errors down.

Muthaiga’s Ganeev Giddie and Windsor’s Rizwan Charania finished tied in second place with a score of 73, just 2-shots off the lead whilst Greg Snow, Ngugi Njuguna, Ken Abuto, Dismas Indiza and James Karanja finished tied in fourth place with a score of 74.

Justus Madoya, David Odhiambo and Frank Matilo were tied ninth with 75, Kopan Timbe and Hesbon Kutwa were tied 12^th with 76.

The amateur quartet of Willam Kaguta, George Munyao, Temi Katembo and Adel Balala finished with a relatively good score of 6-over par 77 for a tie of 14^th place.

The second round of the inaugural edition of the Safari Tour continues tomorrow(Monday 20^th Aug) at the Nyali Golf and Country Club. Only the top 20 players at the close of Round two will proceed to play in the third and fourth round and to compete for a share of the Sh1m on offer.

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.