-Day characterized with windy conditions and wet course as 70 players battle to grab a share of Ksh.2 Million prize purse in the 54 holes’ tournament.
-Elsewhere, defending Champion Mercy Nyanchama stamps her authority to retain title in the Ladies Coast open at Malindi.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-MOMBASA.
Great Rift Valley’s Justus Madoya braved all odds in recording a brilliant round of level-par 71 gross to emerge as the day one leader in the third leg of the ongoing Sunshine Development Tour-East Africa Swing golf tournament at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country club course in Mombasa County on Monday.
The morning of the day was characterized with unexpected extremely cold weather and rainy conditions that tested the patience and adaptability of an estimated 70 players from eight African Countries where the unexpected wet course and windy conditions briefly suspended the early morning team flights at 8:45 AM due to the heavy rainfall with action resuming at 10:30 AM, once the weather eased.
Madoya made his move early, playing a composed front nine with birdies on the 3rd and 5th holes, offset by a single bogey on the 4th.
On the back nine, he dropped a shot on the 10th but quickly recovered with a birdie on 11 and followed that with another dropped shot on 12th and then steadied the round, picking up a birdie on 17 before closing with a bogey on the final hole to finish to lead the day’s leaderboard.
“The course played tough with the early rain, but I stuck to my routine and focused on shot-by-shot execution. I didn’t take unnecessary risks and just tried to keep the ball in play. Nyali is a tricky course, especially in the wind, so I’m happy with how I handled the conditions, “said Madoya.
Tied for second on 1-over-par 72 gross were David Wakhu of Golf Park and Greg Snow of Muthaiga Golf Club.
Wakhu carded birdies on the 1st, 5th, and 17th holes, but saw his round checked by bogeys on the 3rd, 7th, 11th, and 16th, with pars on the rest.
Snow had a promising front nine with birdies on the 1st, 5th, and 8th, but also dropped shots on the 4th, 7th, and 9th. He recovered well on the second nine adding a birdie on the 11th, playing steady par golf apart from bogeys on 12th and 16th.
“It’s a course that demands accuracy, and today’s conditions made that even more important. I had a few misreads, but overall, I managed the round quite well. Tomorrow is a new day, and I’ll try to go a few better,” said Snow.
Tanzania’s Fadhil Said Nkya, Daniel Nduva of Nyali and Kenya Railway’s Samuel Njoroge of Kenya Railway, all tied for the fourth spot on 2-over-par 73 gross.
A six-way tie for seventh slot saw Mohit Mediratta, Erick Ooko, Celestine Nsanzuwera of Rwanda, Kenneth Bollo, Alfred Nandwa, and Adel Balala all closing the day on 3-over-par 74, keeping the leader board tightly packed heading into round two.
The three days 54 holes’ tournament will have a cut after two rounds for the top 30 players and ties who will proceed to the final round on Wednesday with KES 2 million in prize money and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points on offer for the players.
Countries being represented includes hosts Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, and Zimbabwe.
After the Nyali leg, attention will shift to Diamonds Leisure Beach & Golf Resort in South Coast of Mombasa, Kwale County which will host the fourth leg from Saturday 9th, to Monday 11th August, completing the Sunshine Tour’s Coast Region double-header.
Elsewhere at Malindi golf and Country club course in Kilifi County also on Monday, defending Champion Mercy Nyanchama from Njoro Country club started on a high note by stamping her authority to claim day one lead after carding 76 gross in first leg of this year’s Ladies Coast open tournament.
This Division A category saw Ruiru’s Pauline Mungai emerge the gross winner with 85 gross while Royal Nairobi’s Penny Wambui on 89 gross and Vipingo’s Betty Bundotich with 90 claimed the runners up and third slots respectively.
Beatrice Bisonga from Nakuru was the net winner in this division carding 68 nett as home club’s Zipporah Gitonga settled for the runner’s u place on 71 nett and club mate Luigina Bernini carded 72 nett to secure third place.
In the Division B, home clubs former Lady captain Hamida Chidagaya was the gross winner on 92 gross while Royal Nairobi’s Dr. Auma Obama with 104 gross and Nakuru’s Catherine Oosterwijk’s 101gross placed them runners up and third respectively.
Vet Lab’s Margaret Kalekye was the nett winner recording 75 nett as Joyce Ngwiri brought a count back score of 75 nett to survive for the runners up slot after tying on the same score with third placed Maureen Obunga from Malindi.
This five leg Coastal circuit organized by the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) featuring ladies from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania runs from Monday 4th to Saturday 9 th, August.
The final leg is set to be played at Nyali golf courses in Mombasa County, after Vipingo Baobab, Diamond Leisure and Mombasa Golf Club.
SUNSHINE DEVELOPMENT TOUR EAST AFRICA SWING-DAY ONE (MONDAY) LEADERS AND TIES.
Justus Madoya-71 gross, David Wakhu-72 gross, Greg Snow-72 gross, Fadhil Said Nkya-73 gross, Daniel Nduva-73 gross, Samuel Njoroge-73 gross, Mohit Mediratta-74 gross,
Erick Ooko-74 gross, Celestine Nsanzuwera-74 gross, Kenneth Bollo-74 gross, Alfred Nandwa-74 gross, Adel Balala-74 gross.
MALINDI LEG TOP WINNERS-LADIES COAST OPEN.
Division A Overall winner-Mercy Nyanchama-76 gross, nett winner-Beatrice Bisonga-68 nett, Division B gross winner-Hamida Chidagya-92 gross, Nett winner-Margaret Kalekye-75 nett .
ENDS.
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