CHARGING ON: Dismas Indiza addresses a press conference during the Kenya Open. He has slashed Simon Ngige's lead to six shots, with only 18-holes remaining at the fourth leg of the KCB Golf Tour at Royal Club.

By JAMES WAINDI
Mumias’ pro Dismas Indiza yesterday slashed Simon Ngige’s KCB East African Tour lead to six shots as the 72-hole fourth competition reaches its climax on Saturday with the final round at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club.
Ngige of Thika Sports Club enjoyed a comfortable 9 shot lead after the second round on Thursday but played a tormenting round of one over in the third round,saw him pick an cumulative score of 11 under par 205.
However, tough pin positions on Day 3 literally affected scores with Dismas Indiza being the only pro to post an under par score in today’s round.

The course was really challenging for all pros and only Dismas Indiza posted an under par score.
“The pin positions were very difficult. To play good golf you have to go centre green. To make birdies you have to putt so well. Today I didn’t putt well. Tomorrow if the flags will be like this, I will just play centre green,” said Ngige.
After Day three action on Thursday, the cut reduced the field 16 pros.
Paul Thuo also complained of the pin positions saying they were too difficult “and you couldn’t attack”.
“Today the course was really tough but I’m happy that at the end of all the difficulties I played two under which isn’t that bad. If they change the pin positions then we will have good scores,” said Indiza.
If Ngige plays level par today, Indiza has to play six under to win.
Indiza dropped a shot on hole 1 but picked himself up to collect two birdies on the par 5 hole 7 and par 3 hole 8 for a score of 35 in the first nine.
In the second nine, Indiza birdied thrice on holes 10,15 and 18.
Ngige on the other hand scored 35 in the first nine and 38 in the back nine. He had 2 birdie on hole 5 and 17. He dropped two shots on holes 12 and 16.
The event enters its last round today.
Day Three Leaderboard
1. Simon Ngige 205
2. Dismas Indiza 211
3. Anil Shah 216
3= Ken Abuto 216
5. Kopan Timbe 217
5= Nicholas Rokoine 217
7. Richard Ainley 219
8. Riz Charania 220
8=John Kagiri 220
10. P. Thuo 226
11. Ali Kimani 227
11=Boniface Simwa 227
13. Brian Njoroge 228
13=P. Njagi 228
15. Charan Thethy 229
16. John Kiondo 235 air max 90 air max 90

CLOSING IN: Thika's Simon Ngige follows his shot during yesterday's second round of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club. Photo by JAMES WAINDI

By JAMES WAINDI

Thika’s Simon Ngige maintained his day one lead at the ongoing KCB East Africa Golf Tour at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club when he short five under on the second day to move to 12 under par 132 and carry a nine shot advantage over his closest challenger.

Ngige who has had a false start to the series this year that saw him finish second in the first leg in Thika, before finishing fourth in the second leg in Muthaiga and then finishing sixth in the last event held in Nyanza said he was focused on winning his first competition of the year and noted that he would be cautious in the last two remaining rounds.

“I will cautious in the remaining rounds, but I will not panic because I have previously taken the lead from the first day to the last, so it is not new to me and I cannot afford to be aggressive in the remaining 36 holes,” said Ngige.

He added: “Today my driver was poor, but my putting remains good, in fact I had 29 putts today.”

During yesterday’s round, Ngige started with a birdie on the par five second hole, then picked four straight birdies on the par four fifth hole, par three sixth, par five seventh and par three eighth, before dropping a shot on the par four ninth hole for a first nine score of 32.

In the second nine, he started on a wrong foot with a bogey on the par four 10^th hole, but recovered with birdies on the par five 14^th and 15^th holes, the same holes he sunk eagles during the first round when he finished on seven under. He scored 35 in the second nine.

Mumias pro Dismas Indiza who won the last event at Nyanza Club last month, was placed second going into the third round on three under par 141. He played a round of level par 72 yesterday where he picked birdies on the par five second hole and par four third hole before dropping a shot on the par three hole six for a first nine score of 35.

In the second nine, he started with a bogey on the par four hole 10 and par three hole 13, but sunk a birdie on the par three hole 17 for a score of 37.

Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) chairman Riz Charania who finished the first round second, dropped to third tied position with Royals Anil Shah on two under par 142, while Ken Abuto was fifth on level par 144. nike air max 97 nike air max 97