Mediratta remains top as Safari Tour's first leg enters final round

Second round leader Mohit Mediratta remained at the top of the leader despite dropping two shots in the third round of the Safari Tour's first leg tournament at the par 72 Sigona Golf club course on Tuesday 28 September 2021.

Mediratta who is out to build a strong base by winning atleast three or so events in the build up to the 2022 Magical Kenya Open, shot one-under par 71 for a three rounds total of eight-under par 208 which gave him a four shots lead from Vet Lab’s Edwin Mudanyi.

"If the greens were little a bit faster I would have made atleast five or more birdies for a better score than one under par. All the same, I am happy my game is good at the moment and I will keep firing for the top as I real need this win to build the confidence I need.

I am happy though where I am standing. We have five weeks of playing and I believe my game will get better as we go on" said Mediratta, who is enjoying home course advantage in the first leg of the Safari Tour. .

He picked six straight pars and the front nine looked fine until he dropped a shot at the par four seventh hole. He however closed the nine well with two birdies at the eighth and ninth holes.

He dropped a shot at the back nine’s 13th but managed to birdie the 17th for the day’s one under par.

It was a great day for the Vet Lab pro Mudanyi who rolled in a total of eight birdies and an eagle for a brilliant eight under par 64 and a three rounds total of four -under par 212.

Mudanyi was going for the course record of 63 set in 2017 by Sigona resident pro John Wangai. He however missed a four inch putt for a birdie at the 18th hole, having also missed a close one for a birdie at the 17th hole.

“I was really firing for the top having got off with a birdie at the first hole. I dropped two shots soon after at the second and third but I was happy making birdies on the fourth, seventh, and eighth and the four birdies in a row at the back nine’s 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th that gave me the confidence to go for the record.

A bogey at the 16th after adding one more birdie at the 15th denied me the record. It feels great and I am looking forward to play well in the closing round to see if I can be able to dislodge the leader," said Mudanyi.

On the other hand,Kenya Railway Golf Club’s Samuel Njoroge made a move to the top after an impressive five -under par 67 which left him in third place on two under par total of 214. Njoroge had seven birdies and two bogeys enroute to his third round 67.

Another Railway player Alfred Nandwa, meanwhile, dropped from second place to tie fourth with Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi, after posting three over par 75 in the second round.

The fourth and final round of the opening event is set for 7.30am with the last team teeing off at 8.40am.

The winner depending their score are set take home Ksh230,000.