Mpwanya, Chinhoi lead race for Karen Safari Tour title

As the Magical Kenya Open draws closers, Kenyan professional golfers and their regional counterparts are leaving nothing to chance in the race for the tickets to the European Tour. 

The penultimate round of the tournament qualifying series, Safari Tour, played at the expansive par 72 Karen Country Club has witnessed some of the best scores in the entire series with competition stiff for the overall title. 

As the 20 golfers who made second round cut from an initial entry list of 76, head to the final round of action at Karen on Wednesday 9 February, two Zimbabwe pros are in the lead, Visitor Mapwanya carding a three round score of 14 under par 202, a shot ahead of Robson Chinhoi's 13 under par 203 to headline the field. 

The first Kenyan on the list, Simon Ngige, is three shots of the leader and hopes that a better final round will help him cut the deficit and go for the win. 

Ngige had maintained a steady two rounds of golf in round one and two, carding six under par 66 on both rounds. However, in the third round, the Thika Sports Club’s resident golfer could not master the same form and carded a one over par 73 that saw him close the day in third ace at 11 under par 205. 

"Tuesday was one of those days when things on the golf course do not work as you aspect. As a golfer, I have to accept such happened and instead of dwelling on it focus on playing better in the next round. 

I was not hitting well off the tee. I was feeling a bit exhausted but I have had a entire afternoon to settle and relax and I feel better. In the final round I remain focused, playagainst the course and not my competitors then we see how I perform at the end of the 18 holes," said Ngige. 

In the first and second rounds, Mapwanya had carded 68 and 64, ending the third round at 70 while Chinhoi had played for 69 in the first round and identical scores of 67 in the second and third rounds. 

Meawhile, Mumias' hard hitter Dismas Indiza played for two under par 70 in the first round and a steady four under par 68 in the succeeding two rounds for a combined score of ten under 206. 

Sydney Wemba completes the top five golfers after three rounds at eight under par 208. Heading to the final round, 12 golfer have carded under par scores with two more Jacob Okello and and Mathew Wahome tied in 13th place after leveling the course at 216.