Homeboy Greg Snow just too good at Muthaiga

Greg Snow on Wednesday beat long hitting Dismas Indiza and Windsor’s Riz Charania by a big margin of 15 shots, to claim the overall title in the fifth leg of the 2018/2019 Safari Tour golf series at Muthaiga Golf Club’s par 71 course.

Snow, currently in his best form, fired one under par 70 in the final round of the three million shillings event, to win with an impressive 13 under par 27.

This is the first time a player has scored an all under par scores in the series and even in any other event in the country after many years.

“I tried to play a conservative round today as I did not want to lose what I already had. I am so glad that I am now in control of my driver though I still have some work to do on my putting as I prepare for the last leg at Karen and eventually the Kenya Open," said Snow.

Starting the final day with an 11-shot advantage, Snow recovered from two bogeys at the front nine, to birdie the 14th and 18th holes. “Went behind a tree at the third hole where I was not able to get a good shot, to drop the first shot of the day. I managed to recover it at the seventh but I pushed my shot to right at the ninth to drop another, there I needed at least two birdies to finish under par," added Snow.

"I am really grateful to the sponsors of the tour (Barclays and Johnnie Walker) as well as the Kenya Open Golf Limited. This tour is the best thing that has happened to us and I think it will help the level of golf in the country to rise to a very different level."

Indiza shot two under par 69 in the closing round to tie for second place with Charania on two over par 286. Charania shot one under par 70 to also finish on 286.

Both Charania and Indiza took home Sh202,500 while Snow pocketed Sh450,000 plus undisclosed bonus for shooting all under par scores. Meanwhile, Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige returned two over par 73 in the closing round, to finish in fourth place with 288.

Windsor’s David Opati and David Wakhu of Golf Park tied for fifth place on six over par 290. Wakhu shot level par 71 while Opati had a tough outing, posting seven over par 78.

Of the visiting players who made cut, Uganda’s Philip Kasozi - who started with a poor 82 - shot one over par 72 for 13 over par 297 to tie for 10th place with Vet Lab’s Nelson Simwa. The two were just a shot better than Edwin Mudanyi of Vet Lab who carded level par 71 for 298 to emerge as the best amateur.

The sixth and final leg will take place at Karen Country Club from February 16 where the top eight players in the series will qualify for the Kenya Open which this year will be part of the European Tour series.

The final leaderboard at Muthaiga:

271 Greg Snow 67, 70, 64, 70

286 Dismas Indiza 71, 75, 71, 69

286 Rizwan Charania 71, 73, 72, 70

288 Simon Ngige 72, 71, 72, 73

290 David Wakhu 74, 77, 68, 71

290 David Opati 73, 66, 73, 78

294 John Kagiri 72, 73, 77, 72

296 Jacob Okello 75, 72, 77, 72

296 David Odhiambo 69, 73, 75, 79

297 Philip Kasozi(Ug) 82, 72, 71, 72

297 Nelson Simwa 80, 71, 74, 72