Safari Tour golf series back in action

Professional golfers take the par 72 Limuru Country Club course on Sunday for a four-day Safari Tour event.

This is the first of the three remaining series of the second leg of the Kenya Open Golf Limited owned golf series.

The two remaining series will be played at Karen Country Club on 5 to 9 February and at the Muthaiga Golf Club on 12 to16 February 2022, just a few weeks before the Kenya Open tees off on 3 to 6 March 2022. 

A total of 74 players drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia, and Nigeria teed off from 8 am on 23rd January as the race for Kenya Open qualification heats up.

Those drawn include Robson Chinhoi from Zimbabwe, Uganda's Joe Akope who won the Nyali's Safari Tour series, and long-hitting Kenyan Dismas Indiza who leads the order of merit so far. Also drawn is Kenya’s top-ranked junior golfer Taimur Malik.

In addition to points towards the Magical Kenya Open Golf Championships, the top twenty professional players will battle it out for the prize pass of Ksh 2,000,000. The winner has the potential of walking away with Ksh. 300,000. 

Meawhile, during the Pro-Am played on Saturday 22 January Professional golfer Sydney Wemba led his team comprising amateurs Itimu Kiruti, Michael Kiruti, and Edga Njenga to victory.

The team hit a combined score of 87 points to beat their nearest challengers composed of Pro Dennis Sikwa, and amateurs Ibrahim Lande, Stephen Ndungu, and G Weru who combined for a score of 84 points. 

Coming in third with 83 points was the team led by home pro player John Karichu and comprising of amateurs Ann Wanjama, Moses Kioni and Samuel Ngaruiya.

In the individual amateur prizes, Solomon Irimu playing off handicap 11 was the overall winner having scored 45 points.

Kariuki Minju playing off handicap 27 was the Men’s Category winner having scored 41 points, one more than his nearest challenger Patrick Kinyanjui (HCP 13) who managed 40 points.

In the Ladies’ Category, Gladys Karuri playing off handicap 33 scored 34 points to emerge the winner.

In the Nines, David Njonjo (HCP 20) scored 21 points to claim the accolades for the first Nine, while Eddka Njenga playing off handicap 16 scored 22 points to claim the second Nine honors.

Meanwhile, Vicky Waiyaki playing off handicap 12 scored 37 points in the day to claim the accolades for the Junior Category.

The event at Limuru Country Club attracted a field of 236 players.