Madoya poised for success as Safari returns
Great Rift Valley Lodge resident golfer Jastas Madoya is ready to pick his first leg win in the 2020/21 Safari Tour series as action resumes at his backyard from today to Saturday.
The Safari Tour took a break, for the Christmas and New Year festivities, after the fifth leg held in Uganda and returned to the Great Rift Valley in Naivasha.
The competition will then head to Nyali for the seventh leg between January 30 and February 3.
The penultimate and final legs are set for Muthaiga and Karen on February 6 to 10 and February 20 to 24 respectively.
“When we last hosted a Safari Tour leg in 2019, I performed dismally because I focused more on making my fellow pros comfortable and sacrificed my game.
I have, however, made early plans for them so I have more time for my game.
I have prepared well and I am playing better than I did in last year’s legs of the series.
I am also in a good place healthwise,” said Madoya who missed the cut in Uganda as he played while ailing.
Currently placed 10th in the overall log after five legs at 108.3 points, Madoya has his eyes set on carrying the day ‘at home’ to improve his points and go up the log as he looks to qualify for the Magical Kenya Open slated for March.
“I am targeting under par on all rounds. I am under no pressure as I have achieved impressive scores during my practice rounds.
Physically I feel ready, my stamina is back and I am in good shape,” said Madoya adding that his plan for an automatic slot to the Open, where the top eight pros in the Safari Tour are assured of qualifying, is to win three of the four left legs.
The 33-year-old played in the 2019 Open as it was making its debut on the European Tour. He went on to finish tied 72nd.
Madoya has tipped the seventh hole and the last four to be the toughest and tricky for any golfer.
“Hole seven is tight. On its left are houses, trees and bushes, on the right is a water hazard right in front of the green and bushes on the end of the green.
Hole 15 is a long par 3 ,while holes 16, 17 and 18 have fairways that have thickets on the sides,” explained the golfer.
