Kenyan youngster Mutahi Kibugu has carried a one-stroke lead into the final round of Muthaiga’s Safari Tour leg following brilliant displays at the Par 71 course.
Sublime Mutahi had his campaign effectively sewn up with a scintillating round of two-under-par 69 for a gross total of four-under-par 209.
Mutahi, who was the sole Kenyan to cut last year’s DP World Tour’s Magical Kenya Open (MKO), fired a three-under-par 68 on Sunday and one-over par 72 in Monday’s round to surge ahead in the competition.
He now savours a one-stroke lead ahead of Namibian Kasoma Paulino, Great Rift’s Jastas Madoya, and Eric Ooko of Golf Park who completed the penultimate round on three-under-par 210.
Kasoma is one of the foreign players partaking in the Safari Tour in pursuit of two Kenya Open slots at stake for regional professionals.
The Namibian said his dream is to one day represent Namibia at the Olympics, as well as compete in the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) Tour.
The 25-year-old Namibian pro finished as a runner-up to Kenyan Dismas Indiza at Safari Tour’s season opener, the 2023 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open, held in October last year.
“I have competed in several competitions all over the USA and gained valuable experience as a golfer,” Kasoma said after he made an eagle on the par 5 eighteenth to close the day on three under.
Mutahi replicated his younger brother Njoroge’s 2022 achievement at the MKO last year as the sole Kenyan in the money bracket.
He birdied holes 4, 15.17, and 18 to stay ahead of the pack. Dismas Indiza, who is the log’s current leader, also made an eagle on the 18th to end his penultimate day’s play on two-under.
Indiza and his Muthaiga counterpart Greg Snow have been regarded as the finest Kenyan players in professional golf.
Indiza has won the Uganda Open a record seven times including last year’s edition as well as 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2018.
The Mumias long-hitter is now placed joint fifth on two-under-par 211 gross alongside Railway’s Samuel Njoroge and Greg Snow of Muthaiga.
Muthaiga’s leg of the “Road to Kenya Open” series gave local and foreign pros a feel of the venue that will host the prestigious DP World Tour event on February 22-25.
The Safari Tour is being used as a yardstick to select 8 local pros and two regional players for the Kenya Open. The 2023/2024 Safari Tour Season Six began with the Uganda Open in October last year.
Safari Tour - Muthaiga GC Round 3 Results
1. Kibugu Mutahi 209 (-4)
T2. Paulino Kasoma 210 (-3)
T2. Madoya Jastus 210 (-3)
T2. Erick Ooko 210 (-3)
T5. Indiza Dismas 211 (-2)
T5. Njoroge Samuel 211 (-2)
T5. Snow Greg 211 (-2)
8. Mike Kisia 212 (-1)
9. Frank Matilo 213 (Par)
10. Nelson Mudanyi 214 (+1)
