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Uganda’s Deo Akope shot three under par, his second in two days, to tie with Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige on two under par total, going into the final round of the 2021/2022 Safari Tour golf series at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club course on Tuesday. 

Staring with an eagle three at the par five‐first hole, Akope, a resident pro at Uganda Golf Club in Kampala, later pushed his driver to the right at the par five‐fifth hole, came out well but over shot the green, to drop his only shot of the day which he however managed to recover at the dog‐leg‐left eighth hole, then parred the first eight holes at the back nine until at the home green where he picked up a two‐club for the day’s 68 for a two rounds total of 211. 

“I am just happy with my score even though I had a chance of going low but I did not want to be too aggressive as I know this course very well having played here many times’’ said Akope who said he will strictly follow his game plan which is to make sure he does not drop many shots but rather manage whatever comes. 

Closing  ceremony

“If I play and win, that will be most welcome as I will be the first Ugandan to win a safari Tour event, but I am not going to aggressively look for that,’’ added Akope. 

On the other hand, Ngige who said his take off from the tee was not so good, hopes to try and go lower in the final round, though his plan, like Akope, is to try and minimise further damage. 

“I was able to make birdie on the par fives, because I was trying to make sure that I remain on course in every hole and that helped me to save pars on the long hole,’’ said Ngige who added he will embark on preparation for the Uganda tour now that the fifth leg at Leisure Lodge has been cancelled. 

He dropped a shot at the uphill par three‐sixth but recovered a shot at the eighth and made two birdies at the back nine, but with a bogey in between. 

Closing to a striking position was Golf Park’s David Wakhu who shot three under 68 to tie for third place with senior pro Dismas Indiza on level par 213. 

Meanwhile round two leader Robson Chinhoi picked up a 10 at the par five‐11th after hitting out of bound, to drop to sixth place on two over 215. 

Teeing off for the final round is set for 7.30am followed by the prize giving ceremony at 2pm.