Local Pro Stars Greg Snow, C J Wangai Set Sights On Karen Masters Crown

25th June 2019 - by SPN Correspondent

Two of the home favourites are determined to outshine the best Sunshine Tour competition that will descend at the Par 72 course to claim the coveted prize when the event tees off on Wednesday with the Pro-Am

Muthaiga Golf Club's Greg Snow poses with the Safari Tour trophy after being crowned Champion of the Thika Greens leg of the golf series on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. PHOTO/Courtesy

SUMMARY

Missing the Kenya Open cut and a no-show at last year's Masters saw him secure a slot for this week's event in the recently concluded Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Road To Masters Order of Merit
On the other hand, Wangai, winner of the four-leg Road To Masters series, is hoping the momentum will carry him to victory when the Sunshine Tour event concludes on Sunday
The third edition of the KCB Karen Masters tees off on Thursday preceded by a Pro-Am. The first two rounds on Thursday and Friday will be used to determine the tournament cut, while the next two from Saturday will ascertain the winner of the Blue Jacket

NAIROBI, Kenya- Having failed to break the Kenyan duck at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open, local professionals have turned their attention to scaling the heights at the KCB Karen Masters that tees off on Wednesday in Nairobi.

No Kenyan professional has won the coveted Blue Jacket since the inception of the Masters in 2017 but Greg Snow and CJ Wangai are two of the home favourites who are determined to outshine the best Sunshine Tour competition that will descend at the Par 72 Karen course to claim the coveted prize at the event billed the second biggest in the country after the European Tour Open.

Snow, the Muthaiga Golf Club professional candidly admitted he was tired of living in the shadows of visiting Sunshine Tour stars after skipping last year's Karen Masters and missing the cut at the Magical Kenya Open earlier in the year.

Missing the Kenya Open cut and a no-show at last year's Masters saw him secure a slot for this week's event in the recently concluded Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Road To Masters Order of Merit.

"Obviously the plan is to win the event and just to have a solid week and play some good golf. I have been practicing at Karen and getting ready for the week. The course is in superb lush-green condition and I can only hope for the best.

"To set the karen Masters ball rolling, I will go for the cut and after securing a place in the money bracket, I will definitely take the last two rounds as they come," he declared.

Snow, who has previously finished in the top 10 of the Kenya Open, has fond memories of the Karen course where he also finished fourth in the inaugural Karen Masters in 2017 behind Netherland’s Will Besseling who then played an excellent 12 under par 132 to emerge the winner with a prize money of USD4000 to boot.

His countryman Reiner Saxton scored 10 under par 134 while Englishman Tom Murray came third with a score of 8 under par 136. Snow settled for fourth on seven under 137 after rounds of 71 on a penultimate day and 66 on the last day.

Biggest victory

“I hit good putts and tee shots in Karen but it's just one of those days when this doesn't happen, that's golf,” Snow quipped, adding: “My attitude has been much better in Karen -just something I’m going to have to persist with this week as I keep putting myself in leading positions."

On the other hand, Wangai, winner of the four-leg Road To Masters series, is hoping the momentum will carry him to victory when the Sunshine Tour event concludes on Sunday.

After a three day break, Wangai savoured a round of golf at the par 72 Karen Country Club and he believes his in good shape to challenge for what would be his biggest career victory thus far.

"After the conclusion of Road To Karen Masters series at Royal Nairobi we have had a go at the greens and fairways of Karen Country Club to try and farmiliarise with the course conditions. Most local pros have practiced there and we are looking to this week's Sunshine Tour event with great expectation.

"My swing is closer to where I want it to be. My strength has always been in the tee shots but again you really have to keep the ball on the fairways and enjoy a good short game at the end of each round," said Wangai who is also the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Captain stressed.

And having already taken some impressive scalps recently in Thika and Nyali- Wangai a former administrator at Railway Golf Club and currently the resident professional at Sigona Golf Club- is optimistic of returning a good show when he unfurls his game plan on the tournament that is in its third edition.

"The game plan is simple to capitalize on as many birdies as possible, some eagles which will definitely be few and far between, putt well and stay focussed on the fairways by avoiding the roughs as much as I can. The current rains have seen the course at Karen revert to its pristine condition but landing on the thick roughs won't be the best of options when you come to think of drop shots.

"My plan this week is to make the cut and go for a top 10. Playing in Safari Tour and Road To Karen Masters has been quite inspiring and beneficial, we can only hope for the best this week."

The third edition of the KCB Karen Masters tees off on Thursday preceded by a Pro-Am. The first two rounds on Thursday and Friday will be used to determine the tournament cut, while the next two from Saturday will ascertain the winner of the Blue Jacket.