Deo Akope finished seventh at the KCB Pro-Am Golf final at the Nyali Golf and Country club in Nyali, Mombasa this morning with a level par 71 score to end with a total of 289 gross over four days of action on the par 71 course.
Akope, returned with 74, 73, 71, 71 to finish seventh out of the 30 golfers who made it to the grand final which was won by last year’s winner Brian Njoroge, who claimed the overall crown on the third hole on a sudden death play-off with Riz Charania.
Dennis Anguyo, shot five over par 76 gross to finish with a total of 306 gross and end in 18th position he played 79, 78, 73 and 76 over the four days of action.
Entebbe’s Vincent Byamukama, was 9 over par 80 gross finishing 22nd position with a total of 310 with scores 74, 78, 78 and 80.
Akope’s feat will give him a boost going into next month’s MENA golf tour in the Middle East were he is expected to take part in. He also earned Ksh135,000(sh4m) for the four days of action.
The towering Anguyo bagged bagged Ksh45,000(sh1.3m) while Byamukama Ksh27,000(Ugsh800.5).
Njoroge and Riz Charania had tied on level par total of 284 at the end of regulation time. Njoroge who started the final round a shot better than Charania and two shots clear of Sigona’s John Wangai, fired three over par 74, a round which saw him drop four shots, while Charania had carded two over par 73 to force the playoff. ‘’ I putted real bad today and did not think I actual stood any chance of winning today, but I am happy that I managed to defend the title’’ said Njoroge who bogeyed the second hole at the front nine and later at the 12th, 13thand 16th and made only one birdie at the 17th. Charania birdied two holes but against three bogeys for.
Getting into the play off was real great considering that I have not been playing serious golf lately though I must say today’s round was real tough’’ said Charania. During the first extra hole(18th), Charania hit the green but about 35 feet away from the pin while Njoroge fired to the left bunker.
Came out poorly, but putted well for a bogey. Charania missed a two footer for the two to move to the 13th where they halved the hole with a par.
However Njoroge managed to sink for a par the 14th against Charania’s bogey for Njoroge to take home the top prize of Sh510,000. Charania took the second prize of Sh420,000 plus 25.5 points towards the KCB Golf Tour Order of Merit. ‘’ It feels great retaining the grand finale title. I have played real bad in the other events’’ added Njoroge.
Finishing third was Sigona’s John Wangai who was also on course for the title until he lost two balls on the eighth and 11th, managed a four over par 75 and a total of 286 plus 24 points towards the Order of Merit and Sh300,000. He Was a shot better than Mumias Sugar sponsored Dismas Indiza who also shot 75 for 287 plus 23 points. A total of 30 out of the field of 50 had made the second round cut.
The final leader board after the close of the 72-hole
KCB Golf Tour Grand finale;
284 Brian Njoroge 70, 72, 68, 74*
284 Riz Charania 71, 73, 67, 73
286 John Wangai 75, 70, 66, 75
287 Dismas Indiza 71, 73, 68, 75
289 Njuguna Ngugi 75, 67, 76, 71
289 Deo Akope(UG) 74, 73, 71, 71
289 Nicholas Rokoine 73, 71, 73, 72
290 Kopan Timbe 75, 70, 73, 72
293 Stefan Andersen 67, 78, 76, 72
297 David Odhiambo 73, 72, 76, 76
298 Eric Ooko 81, 73, 69, 75
299 Jacob Okello 79, 75, 71, 74.