Visiting pros maintained a firm grip on the Safari Tour ninth leg leadership at Karen holding on to the top two spots at the close of today’s second round.
On a day when a surprise downpour drenched the lush Karen Country Club course causing play to be stopped for close to two hours, more surprises were in store as Kenya’s top golfer Greg Snow bid the competition bye prematurely after failing to make the +4 cut.
The unexpected exit of Snow leaves veteran Dismas Indiza with the unenviable task of stopping the fast-charging Robson Chinhoi from Zimbabwe and Nigeria’s Andrew Odoh who are the co-leaders on six under par gross.
Odoh shot one under par 70 today to remain on top of the leaderboard though his lead was cut by one shot by Chinhoi who’s two under par 69 second round score was enough to bring him level.
Indiza is firmly in contention one shot behind in third position after carding two under par 69 and will have to play more aggressively tomorrow to dethrone the visitors. Simon Ngige and C J Wangai in T4 position three shots behind Indiza must also up their game in the remaining two rounds to scare the visitors.
It was a good afternoon for Riz Charania, Edwin Mudanyi, Tony Omuli and Jacob Okello who enhanced their chances of qualifying for Magical Kenya Open by making the cut.
The shock exit of Snow has opened the door for Indiza and Chinhoi to win the 2020/21 overall title and will only need a podium finish to dethrone Snow on the Order of Merit.
The youthful Mathew Wahome and his namesake Mathew Omondi bowed out of the race for Kenya Open slots after failing to make the cut. It was a bad day in office too for Kenya’s elite amateurs Jay Sandhu, Isaac Makokha and Paul Muchangi after they all failed to make the +4 cut.
After a bright start yesterday when 12 players carded under par scores, the going was tough today with only three players- Chinhoi, Indiza and Odoh- playing under par on the rain drenched course.
DAY 2 LEADERBOARD
1 Robson Chinhoi 136 -6
1 Andrew Odoh 136 -6
3 Dismas Indiza 137 -5
4 Simon Ngige 140 -2
4 C.J Wangai 140 -2
6 David Wakhu 141 -1
6 Visitor Mapwanya 141 -1
8 Samuel Njoroge 142 0
8 Dennis Saikwa 142 0
8 Rizwan Charania 142 0
11 Abbey Bagalana 143 1
11 Mohit Mediratta 143 1
13 Edwin Inana 144 2
14 Erick Ooko 145 3
14 Sullivan Muthugia 145 3
14 Philip Kasozi 145 3
14 Anthony Juma 145 3
14 Victor Kachepatsonga 145 3
14 Ronald Rugumayo 145 3
20 Jacob Okello 146 4
20 Jastas Madoya 146 4
