Kopan Timbe best as Entebbe Open tees off at Entebbe

Kenyan Kopan Timbe shot an impressive round of 66 on the par 71 Entebbe Golf Club to emerge the leading Kenyan after 18 holes of the of the Entebbe Open – which is part of the 2019/2020 Safari Tour Golf Series. 

Muthaiga Golf Club player had a decent 5-under par score saw him end the round tied in second alongside Ugandan Silvia Opiyo; setting the stage for a thrilling final three days at the tournament.

He played a bogey-free first nine, holing consecutive birdies at the par-3 sixth and the par-5 seventh to card a total of 33. On the back nine, he dropped a lone shot at the par-3 12^th but birdies at the par-5 11^th and the par-5 15^th, as well as an excellent eagle at the par5 18^th, saw him card an identical 33.

Kenneth Bollo was the second-highest ranked Kenya in fourth with a 2-under par 61 score. His scorecard was a thing of beauty; holing birdies at the 10^th and 12^th and having not dropped a single shot all day. He finished ahead of Great Rift Valley Golf Resort’s Jastas Madoya who ended his round one challenge tied in fifth – alongside Ugandan Herman Mutaawe – at 1-under par 70.

On the first nine, Madoya carded a total of 37 courtesy of a double bogey at the second; and bogeys at the fourth and ninth holes – having made birdie at the first and seventh holes. On the back nine, he made amends with four birdies at the 13^th, 14^th, 15^th and 18^th; and only dropping a shot at the 17^th hole.

The trio of Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Safari Tour winner Tony Omuli, Sigona Golf Club’s C J Wangai and Johnnie-Walker Sponsored Greg Snow all ended the day tied in seventh at level-par 71 scores. The trio finished just ahead of the duo of Jeff Kubwa and David Wakhu who tied in 11^th alongside Ugandan Deo Akope at 1-ober par 72 scores.

Meanwhile, Robson Chinhoi from Zimbabwe emerged overnight leader having carded a round of 64 to go two shots clear of Kopan Timbe going into the second round. On first nine, he played blemish-free, holing birdies at the first, third, seventh, eighth and ninth to card a total of 30. On the back nine, he dropped a lone shot at the 12^th; but holed birdies at the 11^th, 15^th and 18^th for a total of 34.

Round one leaderboard

1. Robson Chinhoi 64 (-7)
2. Kopan Timbe 66 (-5)
3. Silver Opio 66 (-5)
4. Kenneth Bollo 69 (-2)
5. Herman Mutaawe 70 (-1)
6. Justus Madoya 70 (-1)
7. Greg Snow 70 (0)