Simon Ngige and 32-year old Justus Madoya are the only surviving Kenyans in the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa which reached halfway stage at the Par 71 Karen Country Club yesterday.
The duo, who were least expected to make the cut prevailed as Kenyan favourites Dismas Indiza and Safari Tour winner Greg Snow stumbled. The Kenyans fell by the wayside one after the other with 12 pros and 6 amateurs failing to progress to the next two rounds after failing the projected+2 cut.
Ngige, who has led Kenyan brigade over the past two days, posted a round of 1 over par 72 for a gross total of 2 under par 140. On Thursday, Ngige played 3 under 69 to finish round one on 13th overall position. Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort’s Madoya who is a multiple Goty champion fired back to back level par scores for a gross total of 142 which was enough to see him through to the money bracket.
Ngige was all smiles after a spirited two days of brilliant displays. Yesterday, he made four birdies in the Par 5 sixth, Par 4 ninth, par 5 11th and the par 3 16th. “It’s such a great feeling to reach the money bracket. We have been preparing really well during the Safari Tour and we have remained focused over the past two days. We wanted 1 under 70 today (yesterday) but 72 wasn’t that bad,” Ngige said.
Madoya made four birdies with a double bogey in the 15th hole. Snow and Indiza who posted a +3 finished T80 which saw them kiss the event goodbye. Snow’s rounds of 73 and 72 and a gross total of 3 over par 145 saw him fall by the wayside. Indiza played rounds of 69 and 76 on both days/
