Snow Charges Up Leaderboard, Ferreira Karen Masters Lead Slashed To One

29th June 2019 - by SPN Correspondent

Local golfer storms back to the top 10 as South Africa's Thimba closes in on Portugal's leader on penultimate day of Sunshine Tour showpiece

Greg Snow tees off at the 2019 KCB Karen Masters. PHOTO/Courtesy

SUMMARY

Snow, the Muthaiga Golf Club professional, who finished fourth in the inaugural edition in 2017, sunk four birdies in the front nine and three in the back to lead the local golfers after ending the day tied for eighth
Golf Park pro David Wakhu is the second best placed Kenyan on a gross total of 7 under par 205 after dropping a shot on the par 4- 18th. Wakhu goes into the last round in joint 14th position
But Thimba who led his team to Pro-Am victory on Wednesday bounced back on day two with a stunning 9 under par 63 and its been neck and neck affair between the two front runners

NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya’s Greg Snow bounced back with an impressive round of 6 under par 66 to shoot up to the top 10 of the 2019 KCB Karen Masters as Portugal's Stephen Ferreira saw his lead at the summit of the leaderboard slashed to a single stroke on the penultimate day of the Sunshine Tour showpiece on Saturday in Nairobi.

Snow, the Muthaiga Golf Club professional, who finished fourth in the inaugural edition in 2017, sunk four birdies in the front nine and three in the back to lead the local golfers after ending the day tied for eighth.

He dropped from second on opening day on Thursday before a disastrous second on Friday where he carded a 2 over par 74 saw him plummet to joint 23rd..

The Safari Tour champion was nevertheless back in the grove closing Saturday on a gross total of 9 under 207.

“Round three was all good as I was able to regain the top 10. I tried my level best to control the ball by hitting the greens more but I still feel I need to practice a lot more on my putting. The course is good condition and I see no reason why locals should not play well. In Sunday’s last round I will surely stay relaxed and see how it goes,” said Snow.

Snow birdied holes 1, 2,4,7, 12, 19 and 18 but dropped a shot on the par 4 -9th.

Golf Park pro David Wakhu is the second best placed Kenyan on a gross total of 7 under par 205 after dropping a shot on the par 4- 18th. Wakhu goes into the last round in joint 14th position.

“It would have been nice to go eight under, but it became a mission impossible when I bogied the 18th hole,” the local ace underscored.

Third placed local is Mumias long-hitter Dismas Indiza who heads to the closing round on a gross total of 5 under.

Quality shots

“After round two, I was just trying to stay patient and started off really solid today (Saturday). I drove the ball nicely, hit a lot of good quality shots into the greens. Lets hope for the best but I am excited with the score the locals have posted so far with 9 Kenyans in the money bracket. It’s a clear indication that standards have improved,” Indiza who wrapped up day three play on T25.

Meanwhile, the battle for the blue jacket served-up great moments ahead for fans with Portuguese Stephen Ferreira’s lead being trimmed to a mere one shot.

Ferreira has led the 2019 edition of the Masters from the start and has remained the darling of fans since Thursday and started round three with a three shot cushion, but not until South Africa’s Toto Thimba pilled immense pressure to cut his lead to a single shot. Both went into the last two holes separated by a stroke.

Ferreira wowed spectators at the par 72 Karen Country Club on Thursday when he set a course record with a scintillating round of 10 under par 62.

But Thimba who led his team to Pro-Am victory on Wednesday bounced back on day two with a stunning 9 under par 63 and its been neck and neck affair between the two front runners.

Whatever’s up their sleeves will be known on the last round on Sunday when the winner of the blue jacket will be feted.

KCB KAREN MASTERS DAY 3 LEADERBOARD

1. Stephen Ferreira POR 62, 66, 68, (-20) 196

2. Toto Thimba RSA 68, 63, 66, (-19)197

3. JC Ritchie RSA 69, 64, 69 -14202

4. Garrick Higgo RSA 67, 67, 69 (-13) 203

5. MJ Viljoen RSA 69, 69, 67 (-11) 205

T6. Keith Horne RSA 70, 69, 67 (-10) 206

T6. CJ du Plessis RSA 69, 67, 70 (-10)206

T8. Steve Surry ENG 71, 70, 66 (-9) 207

T8. Greg Snow KEN 67, 74, 66 (-9) 207

T10. Estiaan Conradie RSA 69, 72, 67 (-8) 208

T10. Callum Mowat RSA 70, 70, 68 (-8) 208

T10. Jacques P de Villiers RSA 68, 69, 71 (-8) 208

T10. Michael Palmer RSA 69, 67, 72 (-8) 208

14. Kyle McClatchie RSA 74, 67, 68 (-7) 209

T14. Peetie van der Merwe RSA 69, 71, 69 (-7) 209

T14. David Wakhu KEN 69, 70, 70 (-7) 209