L. MathekaAkope, Ngige tie on day three in Nyali
Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 19.10.21. | 19:00
The golfers were to play a double header in Mombasa but the fifth leg set for Leisure Lodge has since been postponed
Uganda’s Deo Akope shot three under-par, his second in two days, to tie with Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige on two under par total, going into the final round of the 2021/2022 Safari Tour golf series at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club course on Tuesday.
Starting with an eagle three at the par five‐first hole, Akope, a resident pro at Uganda Golf Club in Kampala, later pushed his driver to the right at the par five‐fifth hole, came out well but over shot the green, to drop his only shot of the day which he, however, managed to recover at the dog‐leg‐left eighth hole.
He then parred the first eight holes at the back nine until at the home green where he picked up a two‐club for the day’s 68 for a three rounds total of 211.
“I am just happy with my score. I had a chance of going low but I did not want to be too aggressive as I know this course very well having played here many times’’ said Akope adding that he will strictly follow his game plan which is to make sure he does not drop many shots on the final round set for Wednesday 20 October.
“If I play and win, that will be most welcome outcome as I will be the first Ugandan to win a safari Tour event. However, I am not going to aggressively look for that’’ added Akope.
On the other hand, Ngige who said his take-off from the tee was wanting hopes for a lower score in the final round.
"I was able to make birdies on the par fives, because I was trying to make sure that I remain on course in every hole and that helped me to save pars on the long holes," said Ngige.
The Thika resident pro dropped a shot at the uphill par three‐sixth but recovered a one at the eighth and made two morw birdies at the back nine, but with a bogey in between to card one under-par 70 and a total of two under par 211.
Closing to a striking position was Golf Park’s David Wakhu who shot three under 68 to tie for third place with Mumias' Dismas Indiza on level par 213.
“I dropped two shots at the sixth and seventh although I had started well, picking a birdie at the third hole. I was able to pick up three birdies at the back nine including a two at the18th, and that made all the difference. I am happy with my round, and look forward to play with both Ngige and Akope who I have a lot of respect for as experienced players," said Wakhu.
Indiza on the hand shot level par 71 for 213 and just a shot better than Muthaiga’s Mutahi Kibugu who posted two under par to move to fifth place on one over par 214.
Meanwhile round two leader Robson Chinhoi picked a 10 at the par five‐11th after hitting out of bbound, to drop to sixth place on two over 215. He is four shots behind the leaders a has his work cut out in the race to finishing top.
The Leader board
Deo Akope (Ug) 75, 68, 68= 211
Simon Ngige 70, 71, 70= 211
David Wakhu 73, 72, 68= 213
Dismas Indiza 72, 70, 71= 213
Mutahi Kibugu 71, 74, 69= 214
Robson Chinhoi 72, 68, 75= 215
Aloys Nsabimana(Rw) 74, 71, 71= 216
Tranos Muradzikwa(Zim) 72, 73, 71= 216
Visitor Mapwanya (Zim) 74, 69, 73= 216.
