Chinhoi ahead as Nyali's Safari Tour leg enters money bracket

Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi grabbed a narrow one shot lead after two rounds of the 2021/2022 Safari Tour Golf series' fourth leg at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club.

A winner of the Vet Lab leg of the series, Chinhoi recovered from a bogey finish at the front nine, to post a low three under-par at the back following a birdie finish at the par three‐18th.

He had picking two early birdies at the 11th and 12th and later at the 16th for the day’s (Monday) three under par 68 and a two rounds total of two under par 140.

Enroute to the home green, Chinhoi who said he is in for big things this season had dropped a shot at the13th in addition to the front nine’s ninth hole.

“I started very well in the second round, unlike in the opening round where I made a number of unnecessary bogeys. I am hitting the ball pretty well and I am wishing it could rain even more as it makes the course, particularly the greens, easy to handle,’’ said Chinhoi.

The Zimbabwean begins the third round on Wednesday 19 October in the last flight that also has Simon Ngige and hard-hitting Dismas Indiza, teeing off at 9.10 am.

Ngige shot level par 71 to sail through to the last two rounds with one under par 141.

“I need to work on my shot game, in particular chipping, which has not been very fine. I take off very well  but my shot game some 50 yards from the greens is denying me low scores. I will, however, work on it in the remaining rounds,"said Ngige.

For his second-place, Ngige, who shot one under-par 70 in the first round to tie top, birdied the fifth and 11th with only a double bogey coming at the 14th, which denied him a day three lead.

On his part, Indiza,shot one under par 70 for a two rounds total of level par 142.

It was a fine outing for Uganda’s Deo Akope who missed the third leg at the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort for late registration. He played a bogey‐free three under par 68 that included three birdies coming on the back nine’s 11th, 13th and 17th .

“I messed up by picking bogeys in the first five holes during the opening round so I had to fight hard to recover some of the shots at the back nine to finish on four over par. But I am happy with my second round. I had my focus on a good round right from the word go, and thanks to my putting, I was able to play a clean first nine which really encouraged me to play well at the back nine’’ said Akope.

Akope tied for fourth place with Zimbabwe’s Visitor Mapwanya who shot two uder par 69 for a two rounds total of one over par 141. He bogeyed three holes but managed to pick up two birdies in each nine.

“I have been enjoying playing here. It is my first time playing here but I had prepared well. I came down early enough after playing badly at the Great Rift Valley. I am looking forward for my first win in the Safari Tour," said Mapwanya.

A total of 22 players including junior amateur Taimur Malik made the six over par cut, to proceed to the last two rounds.

The leader board

Robson Chinhoi(Zim) 72, 68= 140

Simon Ngige 70, 71= 141

Dismas Indiza 72, 70= 142

Deo Akope (Ug) 75, 68= 143

Visitor Mapwanya (Zim) 74, 69= 143

Paul Chidale (Maw) 71, 73= 144

Aloys Nsabimana (Rw) 74, 71= 145

David Wakhu 73, 72‐ 145

Jacob Okello 72, 73= 145

Tranos Muradzikwa (Zim) 72, 73= 145

Mutahi Kibugu 71, 74= 145

Erick Ooko 70, 75= 145.