Indiza grabs lead in opening round of Golf Park Festival

Long-hitting Dismas Indiza grabbed an early lead in the opening round of the Golf Park Festival of Golf 2017 at the par 70 Golf Park course on Wednesday.

Indiza, who has been in great form lately, birdied the ninth in the first nine, picked up one more birdie at the 13th, but dropped shots over the 14th, 16th and 17th, recovered one at the par five-18th for level par 70 to lead home pro Tony Omuli by a shot.

“Its a small but tough course, particularly the greens which were little bit hard today. We are expecting strong wind in second round since we are starting in the afternoon but we will tackle the course as it is,’’ Indiza, whose aim is to play and practise more in Nairobi as he prepares for the 2018 season, said.

Omuli fired a low two under par at the front nine after making birdies at the fifth and eighth. He bogeyed the 12th and a double at the 13th though he managed to recover a shot at 14th and the hole after, for one over par 71.

Golf Park’s resident pro Jacob Okello was two shots off the leader, while Kopan Timbe tied on 73 with Nelson Simwa, and Muthaiga’s Jeff Kubwa.

David Wakhu and Erick Ooko completed the top eight on five over par 75.A total of 20 pros are participating in the 54-hole event which follows the Pro-Am held on Tuesday.

The tournament is expected to end Friday. Pros, who are teeing off in the morning, will be followed by than 100 club members and guests in afternoon.

The professionals are playing for a half a million (Sh500,000) purse in the event being sponsored by some members of the club. The overall winner will walk away with Sh120,000 which is timely, considering that Christmas is around the corner.

Professional Golfers of Kenya captain John Wangai thanked Golf Park members for including the professionals in this year’s tournament.

“We welcome more such events as this year has been very bad for the local professionals and in particular as we approach the 2018 Barclays Kenya Open’’ said Wangai.