Wakhu bosses Nyali course to go top

Golf Park’s David Wakhu produced a bogey-free five under par 66, to go top of the leaderboard as the Safari Tour series seventh leg entered its half-way mark at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club course on Monday.

A winner of the fourth leg held at Sigona Golf Club, Wakhu, started the day with an eagle at the 490-yard par five-first and closed the nine with a birdie three at the ninth hole. He did not look behind after that as he birdied the other two par fives at the back nine, for his brilliant 66 which gave him a two rounds total of three under par 139.

“I am very excited that I am in the zone of keeping my shape and frame ready for the Magical Kenya open. My injuries have healed and am feeling better, so I am looking forward to the Kenya Open in March’’ said Wakhu.

The 2018 Nyali Open winner attributed his superb performance in the Pro-Am and the first two rounds of the 2021 edition to his Sub Zero Callaway Three-Wood, saying that he is yet to use his driver this week and will most likely not.

“I remained calm throughout the round. During the first round, I was a bit fatigued and could not concentrate. Starting with an eagle was a good thing as it really motivated me,” said Wakhu who had carded two over par 73 in the first round.

He will tee off for the third round alongside Uganda Open champion Robson Chinhoi and day one leader Simon Ngige on Tuesday at 10.10 am. Ngige played another steady round to return a score of one under par 70 in the second round, similar to his first-round score, for two under par 140.

Zimbabwean Chinhoi, made a birdie at the first hole, dropped a shot at the tough par four fourth, but managed to pull one back at the eighth, then birdied the 12th and 17th with a bogey at the 14th for two under par 69 and a two rounds total of level par 142.

“I played slightly better today though I still dropped two crucial shots. I still believe I have plenty of chances to go low in the remaining two rounds’’ said Chinhoi who besides the Uganda Open also won the second leg this season at Royal Nairobi Golf Club.

From a field of 52 who teed off on Thursday, 23 made the 11 over par cut to proceed to the last two rounds where at stake, besides the points towards the 2021 Magical Kenya Open, will be Sh150,000 for the winner. Among the big names who however missed the cut included Nigeria’s Andrew Odoh who shot five over par 76 for a total of 12 over par, to miss by one shot, same as Sigona’s John Wangai, and local amateur Henry Kamau.