Masika's sixteen-shot turnaround
An eleven at the first, then a 61 home: Samuel Masika's round at Royal Nairobi was a tale of two nines
Samuel Masika's 138 gross at Royal Nairobi turned on five holes. The 1st cost him eleven and the 9th ten, seven and six over par on two par fours. After the turn he steadied: a five on the par-three 17th and a seven on the par-five 15th matched the five he made on the par-three 8th, his best figures of the day. Home in 61, he finished sixteen shots better than he had gone out.
SNAIROBI — Samuel Masika's round at the NCBA Bank-sponsored tournament at Royal Nairobi Golf Club was a tale of two nines: 77 on the way out, 61 on the way home.
The opening hole was the hardest test of his day, costing eleven strokes on the par four. The ninth took ten more on another par four, closing an outward half in which five holes cost him five or more over par.
After the turn, the round changed shape. No hole on the inward nine cost him more than three over par, and he matched his best figures of the day at the 15th and the 17th.
The card, reviewed in detail
The best of the round
His best holes were the 8th, 15th and 17th, each two over par: a five on the par-three 8th, a seven on the par-five 15th and a five on the par-three 17th. Two of the three came after the turn.
Where it went wrong
The 1st and the 9th, both par fours, cost him eleven and ten — seven and six over par. Together they account for thirteen of his 66 strokes over par.
Front nine against back nine
Out in 77, 41 over par; home in 61, 25 over. Five holes on the front nine cost him five or more over par. On the back nine, none cost more than three.
By type of hole
His par threes averaged 5.75, his par fours 8.2 and his par fives 8.25. Per hole, the par threes were where he lost the fewest strokes and the par fours where he lost the most — the first place to look for his next lower score.
Over par, hole by hole
Summary · all 52 players
| Pos | Player | Out | In | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Solomon Opokwa | 70 | 66 | 136 |
| — | Samuel Masika | 77 | 61 | 138 |
| — | Patrick Yakwa | 71 | 73 | 144 |
| + 49 more players, added from the competition sheet. Field positions appear once all 52 cards are verified. | ||||
This newsletter comes to you courtesy of NCBA Bank, sponsor of the [Tournament name] at Royal Nairobi Golf Club, which brought 52 players to the course. [Sponsor message — supplied and approved by NCBA Bank, up to 60 words.]