Ooko eying wins at Karen, Muthaiga Safari Tours

Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi beat Kenya’s Erick Ooko by four shots, to claim the sixth leg of the 2021/2022 Safari Tour series at the par 72 Limuru Country Club course on Wednesday.

After leading in the first three rounds, Ooko had a round to forget on the final day, especially on the back nine to spoil his chances of picking a win.

He finished second with two over par 290 after posting four over par 76 in the final round. He had maintained par in round two and three, having began his campaign with a perfect score of two under par 70.

Ooko blamed his take off from the tee for his poor performance on the finalmround, particularly at the back nine where he dropped four shots, with only one birdie on his card. 

“I was really looking forward to win this event having led in three rounds, but my tee shots let me down. I was either pulling to the left or hitting to the right. This made it difficult for me to hit enough greens on regulation’’ said Ooko.

He continued “I know I have qualified for the Open, but I would like to win the remaining events because that will give me the confidence I need as we approach the Open."

Starting the day in third place behind the third round leaders Justus Madoya and Ooko, Chinhoi produced a round of two under par 70 despite having bogeyed two holes in the final round, a score which saw clinch the title with an aggregate of two under par 286.

“This is not the kind of scores I had anticipated, but all the same, I am happy to have emerged the winner against very good players Madoya and Ooko," said Chinhoi who had bogeyed the second hole and at the 15th in the back nine, with birdies coming on the third, seventh, 12th and 18th holes.

It was equally a bad final round for Great Rift Valley Golf Resort based Madoya who picked bogey after anotuer during the day with a double at the ninth completely ruining his chances of clinching a back to back victory, having won the Uganda Open last month at Entebbe Golf Club.

He finally had to settle in fourth place on five over par 293 after closing with 79, and a shot worse than third placed Samuel Njoroge who shot 75 for 292.

The final leaderboard:

Robson Chinhoi (Zim) 76. 71, 69, 70=286

Erick Ooko 70, 72, 72 76= 290

Samuel Njoroge 70, 75, 72, 75= 292

Justus Madoya 71, 72, 71, 79= 293

Simon Ngige 76, 73, 72, 73= 294

Mike Kisia 77, 68, 74, 75= 294

David Wakhu 76, 76, 75, 68= 295

Njoroge Kibugu(AM) 75, 77, 70, 74= 296

Dismas Indiza 78, 71, 7374= 296.