Kenyan golfer Daniel Nduva started the fourth leg of the Safari Tour Season Six at Limuru Country Club on a high note, taking joint lead alongside Zimbabwean pro Visitor Mapwanya.
Nduva and Mapwanya fired impressive rounds of five-under-par 67 apiece on the lush green Par 72 course.
Nduva was in imperious form as he carded 35 in the front nine and 32 in the back nine, including an eagle on the par five third.
Nduva, who is yet to win a leg in the 2023/24 season of the “Road To Magical Kenya Open” series, sank six birdies, eight pars and three bogies to start the Limuru leg awesomely.
Mapwanya, on the other hand, made seven birdies and parred nine holes before dropping two shots for a score of 34 in the front nine and 33 in the second nine.
The Zimbabwean is among regional players fighting for the two qualification slots at stake in Kenya’s round of the DP World Tour (formally European Tour) slated for Muthaiga Golf Club on February 22–25.
Stakes are high in the 2024 DP World Tour season as the top 10 members on the final 2024 ‘Race to Dubai’ Rankings will earn PGA Tour of America cards for the 2025 season. The leading 10 players in the DP Tour will share a $6m (Sh954m) bonus.
CJ Wangai ranks third with a cool -4 as Njoroge Kibugu and Gaita Rodel Kisembo of Uganda tie for fourth on three-under-par 69.
Windsor-man Riz Charania and his Mumias counterpart, Dismas Indiza, are joint-sixth on two-under.
Charania was all smiles after the opening round of the Stableford event.
He is trying to recoup the form that made him a formidable golfer in the past few years. He finished seventh in Sigona last week.
He said: “I made a small swing change in December, which helped me with consistency in shot shaping. I am now hitting the ball closer to the target. I also changed my putting grip from conventional to reverse-handed and it’s been much better too.”
Indiza was all smiles after four birdies on the front nine and two in the back nine saw him sign for a 70.
“I think if I am to consider my false start at Sigona, I must admit that I played very, very well here in Limuru as I hit some good iron shots,” Indiza said.
Day One Leaderboard
T1 Daniel Nduva -5
T1 Visitor Mapwanya (Zim) -5
3 Cj Wangai -4
T4 Njoroge Kibugu -3
T4 Gaita Rodel -3
T6 Riz Charania -2
T6 Dismas Indiza -2
T8 Celestine Nsanzuwera -1
T8 Isaiah Omwoyo -1
T8 John Karichu -1
T8 Tanish Gudhka (A) -1
T8 Samuel Njoroge -1
