Golf Park’s David Wakhu shot one under par 70 in the second round of the Great Rift leg of the 2021 Safari Tour series to tie with Day One leader Greg Snow on three under par 139, at the par 71 Great Rift Valley Golf Resort course on Monday.
The strong wind, however, denied the players some low scores as was the case in the opening round, where eight players shot under par scores. Wakhu, however, said his plan was to go easy to make sure he makes the second round cut.
“I have been overworking myself in the gym thus giving myself fatigue, but I will try and make more birdies in the remaining two rounds and see if I can improve on my sores," said Wakhu, who said he saved many shots because of his putting.
“My putting today saved the day as the course was not easy while the wind was very challenging,"added Wakhu who started off with a birdie at the first hole, dropped a shot at the fourth and sixth but birdied the 12th and 14th to eventually to catch up with the Muthaiga player Snow who bogeyed eight holes against five birdies for the day’s two over par 73 and a two rounds total of 139.
Apparently, Wakhu’s one under par was the only under score for the day, with a level par 71 by Jacob Okello and Nelson Mudanyi, who both missed cut and Rwanda’s Alloys Nsabimana being the second best.
Meanwhile, senior pro Dismas Indiza shot one over par 72 to move to third place on 141.
He, however, dropped five shots and it was only his two birdies and an eagle three which saved the day for him. A total of 20 players made it the six over par cut to proceed to the third and fourth rounds where the winner will take home Sh230,000 depending on how many under par scores he will be able to post.
In fourth place on one over par total of 143 after posting one over par 72 was Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige, with second leg winner Robson Chinhoi of Zimbabwe firing his second 72 to tie on 144 with Samuel Njoroge and another Zimbabwean Tafara Mpofu.
It was a tough outing for some of the leading players such as Sigona’s John Wangai and Mohit Mediratta; Mike Kisia of Vet Lab, Uganda’s Abbey Bagalana and Vet Lab’s Edwin Mudanyi all of whom missed the cut and will have to wait for the coast circuit at Nyali and Leisure Lodge in Diani, Kwale County next week.
