Savannah Tour hosts 58 as organisers hope for bigger fields

Savannah golf Tour, a newly introduced golf series saw 58 golfers take to the course at Limuru Country Club on Tuesday to square it out with Greg Snow emerging victorious.

The event, sponsored by the golfers in conjunction with IMG and businessman Taufiq Balala, is aimed at giving Kenyan professionals frequent golfing opportunities as they look to have a competitive edge in international events.

“We had 50 golfers during the first tournament at Muthaiga last week while we registered 58 in the second leg. This just shows that the tournament has been well received by the golfers and we can only hope the numbers will keep on increasing as we head to the next events.

We believe that this initiative will be key to the development of golf in the country, and especially the pros as they prepare to compete in major tournaments," offered Balala.

On Tuesday, Muthaiga's Snow beat Golf Park’s Eric Ooko and amateur Michael Karanga in a three-hole playoff to claim the win.

At the end of regular play, the three leading golfers were tied at two-under-par 70 at the 18-hole golf club. Snow fended off the challenge from Ooko and Karanga on the third playoff hole, holing a birdie to emerge the tournament’s winner.

Earlier, Snow had carded 37 on the first nine, courtesy of successive bogeys on the first and second holes and a birdie on the third; having held par on the rest of the holes.

On the back nine, he played blemish-free, holing birdies at the eleventh, thirteenth and sixteenth holes for a total of 33.

“I played really good. I had the ball under control and struck it really nice after teeing. It is unfortunate that I did not make good of a few chances I had at some of the holes, but other than that it was a decent performance.

The course was in good condition and I took advantage of that. I played the play-off with two very good players, and I had to make a good shot on the last hole to win,” said Snow.

Second-placed Ooko matched Snow’s scores in both the first and second nine, carding 37 and 33 points respectively for a total of two-under-par 70.

He holed birdies on the first, third, tenth, eleventh, fourteenth, and eighteenth holes, but dropped shots on the first, sixth, thirteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth holes.

Ooko, in the end, blamed his putting for failing to clinch the title.

“I had three putts today. I had a chance of winning this tournament. I shot so many birdies but looking at the bogeys that I had did not allow me to win it. I lost on the play-off, which was a little bit unlucky for me, as I lost with a birdie and so I will not complain.

I understand that I need to work harder on my game. This is the second Savanna Tour tournament and I have finished second in both. This is a very good tour and if we keep on playing, we will get a little bit strong heading to the Kenya Open,” said Ooko.

Meanwhile, Karanga played a decent first and second nine, carding 36 and 34 respectively for a total of two-under par 70.

The tournament attracted a total of 58 golfers including 12 amateurs who battled for the Ksh 500,000 prize money.

The Limuru leg of the Savannah Tour, which is jointly organized by Balala and IMG Kenya, was supported by Magnate Ventures, courtesy of businessman Stanley Kinyanjui.