History for Akope as he wins Nyali leg of the Safari Tour

Uganda’s Deo Akope became the first Ugandan golfer to win a leg of the Safari Tour Golf series in Kenya as he clicnhed the fourth leg, of the ongoing series, at Nyali on Wednesday 20 October.

Two birdies at the last two holes of the final round saw the Ugandan level the course only the final round to pick a four rounds total score of two under-par 282.

Before his back-to-back birdies en route home, the Uganda Golf Club-Kitante resident golfer who is serving as the captain of the Professional Golfers Association of Uganda, had picked up a double bogey at the 417‐yards par four‐16th hole.

"I had a bad approach shot at the 16th which resulted in a double bogey but my caddie encouraged to forget about the hole and focus on the remaining two holes. I am happy because I made two good birdies and in particular the down‐hill one at the 18th.

I am excited because this is the first win for a Ugandan in the Safari Tour and it's encouragement for the rest of the Ugandan pros who are members of the safari and who look up to me," said Akope.

He had dropped one shot at the first nine’s seventh hole and before his double‐bogey six at the 16th,he had birdied the 15th.

“I have played on this course for many years first as an amateur and later as a professional but I have not been very lucky. Winning here on an under par score is very refreshing and encouraging,’’added Akope who missed the third leg at the Great Rift after failing to register for the tournament before the deadline.

For his exploits, Akope takes home Ksh314,348 which included bonus money of Ksh104,348.

He beat Mumias' Dismas Indiza and Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige by two shots for the top prize.

Indiza also fired level par 71 in the final round for a total of level par 284 to tie with Ngige in second place. He had four birdies and an equal number of bogeys for the day.

"I am happy I was able to catch up with these young men, though I did not play the way I real wanted,’’said Indiza who is still chasing his first title this season.

Ngige on the other hand shot two over par which included a bogey at the par three‐18th where he shot to the right rough, followed with a poor roll to the greens.

Coming to the 18th Ngige was at par with Akope and he need a birdie to force a playoff. He birdied one hole at the front nine and dropped a shot, to level the first nine

He started the back nine with two quick bogeys at the 10th and 11th with only one shot recovered at the 17th.

Tying in fourth place is Erick Ooko, Mutahi Kibugu and third leg winner David Wakhu on two over par 286.

Junior golfer Taimur Malik clinched the amateur title with a 13 over par 297.

The tour takes a short break with the next event being the Uganda Open which has now been moved from Uganda Golf Club to the Entebbe Golf Club from December 2.

The final leader board

Deo Akope(Ug) 75, 68, 68, 71= 282

Dismas Indiza72, 70, 71, 71=284

Simon Ngige 70, 71, 70, 73= 284

Erick Ooko 70, 75, 72, 69= 286

Mutahi Kibugu 71, 74, 69, 72= 286

David Wakhu 73, 72, 68, 73= 286

Robson Chinhoi (Zim) 72, 68, 75, 74= 289

Tranos Muradzikwa (Zim) 72, 73, 71, 73= 289.