Cool Greg Snow all but assured of Kenya Open spot

What you need to know:

  • Snow started the six-events poorly, tying for fifth place in the first leg played at Nyali Golf and Country Club in Mombasa for 15.5 points. He, however, managed to bounce back strongly to beat tournament favourite Dismas Indiza at Vet Lab Sports Club in Nairobi for his first 20 points.

With his three straight victories and a top placing in the Safari Tour golf series, Muthaiga’s Greg Snow is sure of leading Kenya’s challenge in this year’s Kenya Open golf championship to be held at Karen Country Club from March 17-20.

One of the finest professionals in the country, Snow started the six-events poorly, tying for fifth place in the first leg played at Nyali Golf and Country Club in Mombasa for 15.5 points. He, however, managed to bounce back strongly to beat tournament favourite Dismas Indiza at Vet Lab Sports Club in Nairobi for his first 20 points.

And though he found the going tough against the hot charging Kiambu amateur Michael Karanga in the third leg at Limuru, Snow was still the best placed professional. Hence he took the first cash prize of Sh150,000 plus 20 points towards the “Road to Kenya 2019" Order of Merit.

“I still played well at Limuru where the course was in great shape and I thought I was going to win with a very good aggregate, but Karanga was at his best form though I am glad I was still the best pro which was the most important thing than just winning the trophy," said Snow, who picked up his second trophy and cash prize in the fourth leg played at the magnificent Thika Greens where he won ahead of Indiza.

OUTSTANDING OUTING

His outstanding performance and the best by any local pro in any event over the past six years, was at his home course Muthaiga this week where he fired an excellent 13 under par 271 to win by a massive 15 shots from second placed Indiza and Windsor’s Riz Charania.

This victory gave Snow a total of 95.5 points, an average of 19.10 points after round three, with Indiza - who now has 92 points - following him closely in second place. Golf Park’s David Wakhu missed points in Thika Greens but is in third place having won the first leg at Nyali and tied for fifth with Windsor’s David Opati at Muthaiga this week, for a total of 61.5 points.

In fourth place is Charania on 59 points and with a chance of qualifying for the Open which this year is part of the European Tour series.

However, Thika’s Simon Ngige, John Wangai of Sigona, Nelson Simwa of Vet Lab and the Great Rift Valley Resort’s Justus Madoya who complete the top eight, will have to work extra hard at Karen’s final leg next month to assure themselves of places in the Open.

Ngige is in fifth place on 57.5, followed by Wangai in sixth place with 53 and Simwa occupies the seventh place on 49 points just one and half point better than Madoya. Breathing fire behind Simwa and Madoya, are Jacob Okello and Coast-based Njuguna Ngugi on 47.5 points each.

Speaking during the fifth leg at Muthaiga Golf Club on Wednesday, Kenya Open tournament director Patrick Obath said he was happy with the general performance of the professionals, saying there is a lot of improvement.

“Looking at the scores and in particular this week, there is hope Kenyans will play well in this year’s Kenya Open," said Obath. He said the participation of players from Uganda and Tanzania gives the Safari Tour an opportunity to become a regional tour.

“We are looking forward to increase the events and hopefully stage some events in the other East African countries."