Nyali’s Daniel Nduva beat Muthaiga’s Greg Snow in a three-hole playoff to claim the title during the third leg of the 2022/2023 Safari Tour Golf Series at the PGA Baobab Course Vipingo Ridge on Wednesday.
At the close of the fourth round, the two pros had tied on two over par 290, with Nduva having birdied the 18th for the day’s three under par 69.
Snow, who started the day at the top with Muthaiga’s Mutahi Kibugu and Uganda’s Ronald Rugumayo, missed his birdie at the 18th to finish on two under par 70, to tie for first place with the long-hitting Nduva.
During the playoff, Nduva hit a perfect three iron and an approach shot, where he birdied the hole against Snow’s par, to take an early lead.
The two leveled the par three- 17th, and again halved the 18th with bogeys, for Nduva to emerge the winner. He took home a cheque of Sh300,000 while Snow earned Sh200,000.
But back to the regulation play, Nduva had birdied the sixth in the front nine and dropped shots on the first and ninth. He made birdies at the 10th and 11th, 13th and 15th and the 18th with a bogey at the 16th.
On the other hand, Snow played a clean front nine, but started the back nine with a bogey at the 10th, recovered at the 11th, and parred six holes with only a birdie at the 15th.
Speaking after the playoff, Nduva said though he did not play well in the first leg in Uganda and missed the cut at Limuru, he was happy winning at Vipingo, a course he said was in great shape.
“I know we did not managed to play under par aggregate, but its not because of the course, but ourselves.
"I enjoyed playing here and I knew I had a great chance of winning despite having been given a one shot penalty during the third round.
"I will continue working on my game as we go for the Christmas break in readiness for the remaining four events of the tour," said Nduva who had not won any event since turning professional more than a year ago.
Snow on the other hand said he was happy with his round though he had projected a three under par or better. He shot two under in the last round.
“I gave it my best shot and all along I did not bother to know how the others were playing as my focus was to play and under par score. I am happy though having stayed at the top of the leaderboard from start to end," said Snow.
It was not, however, a good finish for the Ugandan Rugumayo as he shot six over par 78 to drop to joint fifth with Zimbabwe’s Visitor Mapwanya who shot two under par 70 for 298.
Mutahi Kibugu bogeyed couple of holes to finish on two over par 74 and finished third six over par 294 to take home Sh160,000.
Kenya’s top lady golfer Naomi Wafula took the amateur title after four over par 76 and a total of 19 0ver par 307 in 13th place.
The leader board;
Daniel Nduva 74, 70, 77, 69= 290
Greg Snow 72, 72, 76, 70= 290
Mutahi Kibugu 74, 73, 73, 73= 293
Dismas Indiza 74, 72, 80, 69=295
Visitor Mapwanya (Zim) 81, 74, 73, 70=298
Ronald Rugumayo (Ug) 75, 74, 71, 78=298.
