Visitor Mapwanya follows his tee shot at Karen Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Zimbabwean professional Visitor Mapwanya finally pulled away from the rest of the field after posting two under par 70 at the par 72 Karen Country Club course, going into Wednesday’s final round of the 2021/2022 Safari Tour series.

He picked eight pars at the front nine where he however dropped a shot at the 433-yard long par four-fourth after a bad approach shot. He then birdied the 10^th, 12^th, and 14th hole, for a 14 under par 202, to take a one-shot lead from his countryman Robson Chinhoi.

“I do still think I have a good chance to win my first Safari Tour title despite having missed several birdie opportunities in the third round. All the same, it was nice playing with Simon Ngige who I have played with before, and of course, Robson Chinhoi who is a very good player’’ said Mapwanya who will once again lead the team of Chinhoi and Ngige in the final round.

On the other hand, Chinhoi who made five birdies at the back nine including a two-footer at the 18^th said he had moved closer to the title. “I would not mind though if Mapwanya or Ngige wins because they are very playful, but I will still give it my best’’ said Chinhoi after his birdie on the 18^th. He birdied one hole at the outward nine’s fourth hole, then collected birdies at the 11^th and 12^th 15^th and 16^th, and of course at the home green, for the day’s five-under-par 67 and a total of 13 under par 203.

It was not a good day for Ngige who said that his driving was not as perfect as he had planned. “I dropped three shots at the front nine because of my tee shots particularly at the third where I pushed to the left, got out well then hit it to the bunker having made a birdie at the second, then came the two bogeys at the seventh and eighth’’ said Ngige.

He however said he will still go for the title in Wednesday’s final round. “It is not over yet, as I believe I am capable of pushing myself to the top if I am able to take off well from the tee tomorrow’’ said Ngige who bogeyed the 15^th but made a bogey at the 18^th for one over 73 and an aggregate of 11 under par 203 which was just a shot better than Dismas Indiza who shot four-under-par 68 to move to fourth place on 10 under par 206.

At least 12 players were on under-par scores at the close of round three, an indication of a tough encounter during the final day. The winner depending on the scores, at least the winner is assured of Sh250,000. There will be added bonus money if the winner scores all under-par scores in each round.

The leader board after Round Three:

Visitor Mapwanya (Zim) 68, 64, 70= 202

Robson Chinhoi Zim) 69, 67, 67= 203

Simon Ngige 66, 66.73= 205

Dismas Indiza 70, 68, 68= 206

Sydney Wemba 68, 70, 70= 208

Mohit Mediratta 67, 75, 68= 210

Nyasha Muyambo (Zim) 72, 69, 69= 210

Daniel Nduva 71, 68, 71= 210

Sunday Olapade (Nig) 71, 67, 73= 211.

Thika’s Simon Ngige at Karen Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige produced a bogey-free six-under par 66 at the close of day one of the 2022 Safari Tour seventh leg at Karen Country Club’s par 72 course on Sunday.

He holed in eight pars and a birdie at the par-four-ninth, then birdied the 13^th, 15^th, 16^th and an eagle three at the par five-18^th for a low 31 and his brilliant six-under par score which was one shot better than Mohit Mediratta of Sigona who shot five-under par 67.

Mediratta started well, firing three back-to-back birdies over the first three holes, but made a double-bogey six at the par four-sixth, one of the toughest holes at Karen. He however made birdies from the 11^th to the 13^th and closed with back-to-back birdies in the last two holes.

Three other players led by Kisumu-based David Odhiambo tied on four under par 68 in the opening day which saw 20 players finishing on under-par scores an indication of a tight cut in today Monday’s second-round cut. Odhiambo who dropped a shot in each nine, made three birdies at the front nine’s second and third and at the par three-seventh before he bogeyed the eighth.

Of the other two, Zimbabwe’s Visitor Mapwanya started with a bogey and ended the front nine with another bogey, but he made a birdie and an eagle at the second and third while at the back nine Mapwanya birdied the 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th and later on the 15^th but closed the day with a bogey at the par five-18^th . Zambia’s Sydney Wemba recovered from an early bogey at the first hole, to roll in birdies at the seventh and eighth and the back nine’s 11^th, 13^th, and 15^th to stay close to the leader.

Tournament favorite Robson Chinhoi from Zimbabwe, three-putted the 13^th and lost a ball at the par-five- 15^th but still managed to finish the day on three under par 69.

“The course is generally good, the greens though not fast but they are ok. The course is definitely better than Limuru. I am happy with my game despite three-putting the 13^th and the bogey at the 15^th as a result of a lost ball. A double-digit will be good for me even if I don’t win’’ said Chinhoi who won the sixth leg at Limuru on two under par total.

Uganda Open champion Justus Madoya shot two under par 70 to tie for seventh place with Muthaiga’s Mutahi Kibugu and Riz Charania of Windsor. Five others were on one under par 71 and were led by Uganda’s Silver Opio and included Mathew Wahome from Nyali Golf and Country Club.  A field of 76 players including three amateurs had teed off in the opening round where Limuru Country Club’s Dennis Maara was the best amateur on four over par 76.

The Leader Board:

Simon Ngige 66

Mohit Mediratta 67

Sydney Wemba (Zam) 68

Visitor Mapwanya(Zim) 68

David Odhiambo 68

Robson Chinhoi (Zim) 69

Justus Madoya 70

Mutahi Kibugu 70

Riz Charania 70.