Akope, Kitata eye better times after Karen outing

Feb 28, 2020

Deo Akope and Willy Kitata carded an overall 291 gross over the four rounds.

GOLF

After finishing eighth in the last leg of the Safari Tour at Karen Golf Club in Nairobi on Wednesday, Uganda's professional golfer Deo Akope is now eyeing extra cash in next month's Zambia Open.

Akope tied with US-based Ugandan golfer Willy Kitata, both winning a combined prize money of sh10m in one the events that build towards the sh4b Magical Kenya Open due on March 11-14.

"I think overall it was a great event. I should have finished in a much better position but the last two holes ruined it," said Akope.

"I was on a roll with three straight birdies on holes 14, 15, 16, then finished with double and triple bogies on 17 and 18. My putter and iron play was hot but the driving was average.

"I am now playing regularly as compared to the last two years when I wasn't active," said Akope.

"I am planning for the Zambia Open since I did not play enough events to collect points to qualify for the Kenya Open. Next season, starting in May, I will be good to go this time."

 itata hopes to play in  more afari our tournaments in order to vie for the enya pen Kitata hopes to play in more Safari Tour tournaments in order to vie for the Kenya Open

 

Compatriot Kitata, who was playing for the first time in Kenya in six years, is also hoping to join the tour early next year so that he can contest for the overall prize.

"This was my first professional tournament in Kenya and my first at Karen, so it wasn't the best outing - but I'll take it. Hopefully, I can play more tournaments on the Safari Tour and get in the Kenya Open," Kitata said.

Kitata and Akope carded an overall 291 gross over the four rounds.

Akope slipped from 5th to 8th in the last round, having carded five-over 76 while Kitata also slipped a place further down, after carding 76.

Muthaiga Golf Club's Greg Snow won the event, his fourth on the tour, to bag sh16m and qualify to play in the Magical Kenya Open in third place on the tour standings.

Dismas Indiza, who finished third at Karen, topped the tour standings on 463.1 points with Simon Ngige, who made the biggest leap in the last round, from 13th place to second, coming second on the standings.

The other Kenyans who got direct entry to the lucrative sh4b Kenya event include Erick Ooko, David Wakhu, C.J Wangai and Rizwan Charania.

Uganda's Phillip Kasozi, who was in the running for the Kenya Open slot, missed the cut at Karen to bow out of the race, handing Nigeria's Andrew Odoh the opportunity.

Zimbabwe's Robson Chinhoi finished 5th at Karen and took the other slot for the non-Kenyan nationals.


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