Mutawe muscles to cut as Madoya takes Series lead

Uganda’s Mutawe (L) made his presence felt as Madoya assumed a three-stroke lead. PHOTOS: EDDIE CHICCO

KAMPALA- Kenyan Jastas Madoya leads the Castle Lite Entebbe Professionals Open by three shots at half-way stage after carding a round of five-under 66 yesterday.

Madoya improved on his Day One round by four strokes with an almost near-perfect show on Day Two of the fourth leg of the Safari Tour Series at the par-71 course.

“It was a good round,” said the man from the Great Rift Valley Lodge & Resort Club. “Everything was working, the putting was perfect,” he remarked.

On Day One, Madoya carded one-under 71 but yesterday, he had seven birdies on Holes No.1, No.2, No.6, No.14, No.15 and No.17 only for the bogey on No.9 to stain his card. Now at -6 overall, the church pastor for the youth from the region north of Lake Naivasha wants even more in the race for the Shs40m purse.

“My target is to finish with a total -13 after four rounds. I played in the Uganda Open here last year and then my swing wasn’t so good. This time, it is good. I am shaping the ball the way I want,” he added.

Madoya leads the field with Uganda Herman Mutaawe as his immediate rival. Like Madoya, Uganda Golf Club’s Mutaawe had 70 and as well improved with another round of two-under 69.

The long-hitting Mutaawe carded six birdies on Holes No.6, 11, 12, 15 and 18 but he as well had bogeys on No.2, 16 and 17.
“Like yesterday (Day One), the last two bogeys did me bad. But I am happy,” Mutaawe said.

He is a man on form as he also won the Kinyara Open in Masindi a fortnight ago. “I am just chasing money now and focus on the Safari Tour next year. I want to go level for tomorrow (today),” he added. Seven other Ugandans made the cut at position 20.

SAFARI TOUR SERIES
DAY TWO LEADERBOARD
1 Justus Madoya (KEN) 136
T2 Herman Mutaawe (UGA) 139
T2 Robson Chinhoi (ZIM) 139
4 CJ Wangai (KEN) 141
5 Kopan Timbe (KEN) 142