NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 26 – Youngster Naomi Wafula made history as the first lady golfer to make the cut at the Safari Tour Golf Series after producing a wonderful performance as action reached halfway stage at the par 72 Sigona Golf Club course.
Wafula has been in top form this week after a 74 and 71 on Sunday. Her career best so far at Safari Tour saw the soft-spoken lady amateur make the cut to the next two rounds.
“Today I make history as the first lady golfer to make cut on the Safari Tour. I am grateful to God for the strength and concentration through 4 hours in 2 days and wish me luck guys in the rest of the tournament, all the best to everyone as well,” said Wafula.
She added; “Safari Tour is going well at Sigona as we’re are just two ladies with the men. I scored +2 on Sunday from the men’s tee box and played with pro Robson from Zimbabwe which was a great outing. Level par on round 2 wasn’t that bad.”
Edwin Mudanyi moved to the summit contrary to all expectations, with rounds of 2 under par70 on Sunday and level par 72 today (Monday), savoring a one stroke lead.
Three players Dismas Indiza, Samuel Njoroge and David Wakhu settled for T2 with a cumulative total of 1 under par 143.
Three more Robson Chinhoi of Zimbabwe, Brian Njoroge and and Eric Ooko are on level par 144. Naomi Wafula on T8 is the best placed amateur.
Indiza and Rizwan Charania played the day’s best round of 3 under par 69.
Edwin Mudanyi in action during the Safari Golf Tour at teh Sigona Golf Club. Photo/RAYMOND MAKHAYA
Charania said: “I made some poor swings on Day One leading to a couple of double bogeys and bogeys mainly between holes 7 to 12. Today (yesterday) I was good on my tee shots.”
The 2020/21 Safari Tour, the only pro golf tour in East Africa, teed off at Limuru Country Club earlier in the month where Greg Snow swept the ground with all his opponents.
On the second week of the month, Zimbabwe man Robson Chinhoi staged a stunning penultimate day fightback to emerge the victor at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club with a cumulative total of 9 under which flabbergasted all and sundry.
Indiza, who had a bad start in the first two legs, was untouchable at Vet Lab last week where he vanquished Chinhoi by two strokes what with a penultimate round of 5 under.
A total of 22 players including lady Wafula made the cut. Nine more including Railways Alfred Nandwa failed to make the cut. Round 3 resumes tomorrow.
Day Two leaderboard
1 Edwin Mudanyi 70, 72, 142 (-2)
2 Dismas Indiza 74, 69, 143( -1)
2 Samuel Njoroge 71 72 143( -1)
2 David Wakhu 69, 74, 143 (-1)
5 Brian Njoroge 73 71 144 (0)
5 Ooko Erick Obura 73 ,71 ,144( 0)
5 Robson Chinhoi 69, 75, 144 (0)
8 Naomi Wafula (AM) 74 ,71, 145 (1)
8 Jastas Madoya 70, 75, 145( 1)
10 Paul Chidale 74 72 146( 2)
