Muthaiga professional Greg Snow/HANDOUTMuthaiga professional Greg Snow fired a six-under-par 66 to take the opening-round lead at the Betika Masters, the eighth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, which teed off on Sunday at Limuru Country Club.
Snow carded birdies on the 3rd, 8th, 9th, 10th, 13th and 14th holes, dropping his only shot at the par-4 7th.
“It was a solid day. I stuck to my plan, kept the ball on the fairway and gave myself enough chances,” said Snow.
“The course is soft, so you really have to be precise with approach shots. I’m happy with how I putted, and the goal now is to stay patient and keep the momentum going.”
Elite amateur Michael Karanga and veteran Dismas Indiza finished one shot back on 5-under-par 67. Karanga’s round featured six birdies against a single bogey, while Indiza birdied the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 17th and 18th, with his only dropped shot coming at the 16th.
“Despite the rain, the course was good,” said Karanga. “Tomorrow my focus is on improving my putting, especially on the front nine.”
A trio of players—John Wangai, Celestin Nsanzuwera of Rwanda, and John Karichu of Limuru—closed the day on 3-under 69.
The Betika Masters has drawn 88 players from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, India and the United States, competing for a Sh2 million prize purse, OWGR and WAGR points, and Safari Tour Order of Merit points toward qualification for the 2026 Magical Kenya Open.
Round Two tees off Monday, after which the top 30 players and ties will advance to Tuesday’s final round.
