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L. MathekaAction moves to Nyali as golfers battle for Kenya Open qualification points
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 17.10.21. | 15:35
The golfers were to play a double header in Mombasa but the fifth leg set for Leisure Lodge has since been postponed.
Battle for Magical Kenya Open qualification points at the Safari Tour golf series entered its fourth leg as 65 golfers teed off at the par 71 Nyali Gf and Country Club on Sunday 16 October 2021.
Golf Park’s David Wakhu heads to the leg in good form, having won the third leg held at the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort in Naivasha after carding one over par 285 to beat Railways' Samuel Njoroge by three shots to the top prize.
“I have played well at Nyali today. The course is in good condition but the tricky part will be handling the wind. One has to be extremely careful on how they approach every hole,’’ said Wakhu after featuring in the Pro-Am played on Saturday ahead of the first round on Sunday.
The Golf Park pro, who was the best placed Kenyan at this year's Savannah Classic, a New European Tour leg introduced to reduce travel for pro golfers I the wake of Covid-19, heads to the Nyali leg buoyed by his win here in the 2018 Safati Tour edition. He also won the last Diani Beach Masters at Leisure Lodge which has almost the same windy conditions of the costal town.
"The Nyali greens are not as fast as they usually are. They are still rolling well but they can be tricky," he added.
To take on Wakhu on at Nyali besides Njoroge and Muthaiga’s Greg Snow who finished third at great Rift, will be home pro Mathew Wahome second leg winner Robson Chinhoi , Mumias' senior pro Dismas Indiza, Simon Ngige among others.
The leg has attracted a field of 65 players, seven more than the Great Rift leg. The new faces who have joined the field at Nyali and who missed the third leg in Naivasha includes Coast-based Fred Kamau, lady pro Bhavi Shah, John Kisia, and Promise Silla. Others include Nigeria’s Sunday Olapade, Kevin Mabele from Kenya Air Force Golf Club, Sigona’s Sujan Shah, Zimbabwe’s Visitor Mapanywa and Uganda’s Deo Akope, Ronald Rugumayo, and Willy Kitata.
Akope and Rugumayo were in Naivasha though they were not able to play due to late registration.
Going for the amateur title, will be junior golfer Taimur Malik who during the first leg at Sigona, produced an excellent performance to beat Edwin Mudanyi and home pro Mohit Mediratta in a play‐off.
