Akope, Kasozi keen to make most of Muthaiga Leg
Good Range. Akope leads Uganda’s charge with 99.2 points. PHOTO/EDDIE CHICCO.
What you need to know:
- Ugandan pair of Deo Akope and Phillip Kasozi are separated by 6.7 points and a place on the Safari Tour Series and each will hope to score more points at the Muthaiga Club leg in a bid to reach the Magical Kenya Open.
By the look of things, Uganda looks certain to grab one of the two available places for non-Kenyans to next month’s Magical Kenya Golf Open.
Deo Akope and Phillip Kasozi have a respective 99.2 points in 16th and 92.5 points 17th places respectively on the 2020-2021 Safari Tour Series.
With Zimbabwean Robson Chinhoi way ahead in third place with 260.6 points and Rwandan Alloys Nsabimana in 23rd place on 61.6 points, Akope and Kasozi are now poised to secure the realistically available ticket to the PGA European Tour event due March 18-21 at the par-71 Karen Country Club.
“The beauty right now is that Uganda will be represented by either me or Kasozi which is okay,” noted Akope after tying 13th with Willy Kitata at the Nyali leg of Safari Series in Mombasa, Kenya on Wednesday. Now Akope and Kasozi are keen on making most of the last Series’ two events beginning with the Muthaiga leg at par-72 course in Nairobi today. “I need to finish in good positions in the last two tournaments,” said Kasozi.
He missed the cut at Nyali. “My 3-wood broke before the tournament. I have borrowed one, going to try it.”
This is the penultimate event before the last Series’ leg at Karen that leads to the Kenya Open and Kasozi is hoping his experience counts.
“I have to take it shot by shot. There are no targets here. I need to just be in the mix, I need to be calm and move step by step. Everyone is here from all over for these last two events so you need to concentrate,” he added.
Similarly, Akope is taking a cautious but focused approach to Muthaiga. “I am keeping it simple,” noted Akope, who has previously played at the Kenya Open before it became a PGA European Tour event.
“These courses are tricky and call for patience, total focus and commitment. The first round is always important because it builds your momentum. The greens in Muthaiga are good compared to Nyali where I struggled a lot with my putting.”
Meanwhile, Kitata scored his first points (an aggregate 12.4) on the Series at Nyali but he has belief that he can win at Muthaiga. “Oh yes that’s why I am playing. I’m not playing for anything else but a win,” he said.
Safari tour series
Standings after 7 legs
1. Greg Snow (KEN) 296.6 pts
2. Dismas Indiza (KEN) 275.9
3 Robson Chinhoi (ZIM) 260.6
4. David Wakhu (KEN) 245.7
5. Simon Ngige (KEN) 240.9
16. Deo Akope (UGA) 99.2
17. Phillip Kasozi (UGA) 92.5
27. Abbey Bagalana (UGA) 47.6
41. Willy Kitata (UGA) 12.4
46. Dennis Anguyo (UGA) 9.4
