Race To 2019 Kenya Open: Safari Tour Final To Unveil 8 Local Qualifiers
7th February 2019
Muthaiga’s Greg Snow currently leads the Tour ranking with 95.5 points followed by seasoned pro, Dismas Indiza
- Muthaiga’s Greg Snow currently leads the Tour ranking with 95.5 points following his fourth place finish at Nyali, victory at Vet Lab Sports Club, first place finish at Limuru Country Club and victory at Thika Greens and Muthaiga Golf Club
- Golf Park’s David Wakhu is third with 61.5; he was victorious at the first Safari Tour event at Nyali but has been inconsistent since then, failing to score a single point in Thika Greens
- Indiza will go to Windsor looking for his maiden victory at the Safari Tour whilst Snow will be looking to prove that his resounding victory at Muthaiga was no fluke
NAIROBI, Kenya- The top eight qualifiers to the Kenya Open Golf Championship will be decided at the final Safari Tour event to be held at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club next week (February 16 to 20) according to Tournament Director, Patrick Obath.
“Since August 2018, we have staged five Safari Tour events and at each of these legs the golf professionals have been awarded points based on their performance; the better the performance the more points gained,” Obath said.
Muthaiga’s Greg Snow currently leads the Tour ranking with 95.5 points following his fourth place finish at Nyali, victory at Vet Lab Sports Club, first place finish at Limuru Country Club and victory at Thika Greens and Muthaiga Golf Club.
Snow was on top form at Muthaiga, winning that leg of the Tour with a 15-stroke lead.
MUST READ: Snow Thaws Competition To Clinch Third Safari Tour Crown In Muthaiga
Mumias resident professional Dismas Indiza is second with 92 having been consistent throughout the Tour. He finished second in Nyali, lost to Snow in a playoff at Vet Lab, he was T3 in Limuru, second at Thika Greens and T2 at Muthaiga.
Golf Park’s David Wakhu is third with 61.5; he was victorious at the first Safari Tour event at Nyali but has been inconsistent since then, failing to score a single point in Thika Greens.
Decorated professional
Kenya’s most decorated golf professional at the Kenya Open, Jacob Okello is currently lying joint ninth with 42.5, five shy of eighth placed Madoya. Okello, Nyali’s Ngugi Njuguna and Uganda’s Philip Kasozi have a mathematical chance of qualifying after the Windsor leg.
MUST READ: Opati Storms Muthaiga Leaderboard, Snow Holds On To Lead
Only Snow and Indiza are safe, Wakhu requires 1.5 at Windsor to finish among the top eighth and qualify for the Kenya Open whilst Charania, who will be playing on his home course, will need at least 3.5 to make the cut.
Indiza will go to Windsor looking for his maiden victory at the Safari Tour whilst Snow will be looking to prove that his resounding victory at Muthaiga was no fluke.
Wakhu, Charania, Ngige and Wangai will be fighting for a place in the top eight and an automatic place in the Kenya Open.
MUST READ: Resident Golfer Kubwa Leads Team To Take Pro Am Honours In Muthaiga
Only 17 professional golfers have a chance to make it into the top eight of the Safari Tour.
In addition to the Kenya Open qualification slots, the Professionals will be playing for a total prize kitty of KShs 3million courtesy of Magical Kenya, Barclays Bank of Kenya and Johnnie Walker.
The winner of the Windsor leg will take home KShs 450,000.
Safari Tour Calendar 2018/19
Event 1 - Nyali Golf & CC: 18 - 22 August [Winner: David Wakhu]
Event 2 - Vet Lab SC: 1 - 5 Sept [Winner: Greg Snow]
Event 3 - Limuru Country Club: 27 - 31 October [Winner: Michael Karanga (am)]
Event 4 - Thika Greens: 14 – 19 December [Winner: Greg Snow]
MUST READ: Snow Upbeat As Lucrative Safari Tour Heads To Muthaiga
Event 5 – Muthaiga Golf Club: 11 - 16 January [Winner: Greg Snow]
Event 6 – Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club: 16 - 20 February
Event 7 – Karen Country Club: 23- 27 February (This event will not have Road to Kenya Open points, but shall have a prize money attached to it)