Simon Ngige: How Thika man’s hope turned into expectation

When children do not get recognition or appreciation for their abilities, many a time they coil themselves in fear and hold the belief that their peers, whose names are associated with great potential are better than them. It is not the case with politicians or practitioners of the legal profession because they would shout themselves hoarse on suspicion of insinuation that their abilities cannot measure up to a certain challenge.

The fourth estate will pose as such even when they know they have ‘limitations’ of sorts.

For golfer Simon Ngige, there was little mention of his name among Kenya’s favorites coming into 2019 Magical Kenya Open Championship. The dominant narrative was around Muthaiga’s Greg Snow and the long-hitting Dismas Indiza, well known for his perennial exploits at the Kenya Open. Not even Kenya’s best performer at the now European Tour event, Jacob Okello, had the favorite tag on him and therefore there would be no expectations on him, just like many others.

Ngige, Thika’s resident pro, took the challenge that child who would not answer their critics or try to prove themselves but rather works quietly, with focus and silent determination to achieve his best. That best sometimes turns out to be exemplary, although it’s never a guarantee.

This is his 13th time at the event, having finished sixth overall in the Safari Tour – the qualification series that was dominated by Snow.

Those doubters of what Ngige could achieve at the Open would start counting it déjà vu when he bogeyed the first two holes after teeing off on the first tee in the afternoon of the first round.

He would recover his groove to record a blemish-free run, playing level par on the third, fourth and fifth holes; followed by birdies at the par-5, sixth, the par-4, eighth and the par-4, ninth for a total of 34.

On the back nine, he dropped a lone birdie at the par-3, 16th; but birdies at the par-5, 11th, the par-4, 15th and par-4, 17th holes were enough to secure a total of 34. He ended the opening round as the best Kenyan, ahead ‘favourites’ Snow and Indiza – Snow melting to finish two over par 73, while Indiza was at two-under par 69, a stroke worse off than Ngige.

Hope of the 35-year old man from Thika just playing well was slowly turning into cautious expectation. The second round was the real deal, as it separates men from boys on the course.

In his own words after the opening round, he admitted having “had a shaky start […] but a conversation with my caddie stabilized my approach and I attained some level of focus.”

Some may have dismissed his chances when his remarks “the wind was a challenge, and the course was quite bumpy as some groups had played on the course in the morning” but his determination lied in the conclusion that “going into tomorrow’s round, I want to remain focused on the game and ensure that I am just playing the ball.”

Ngige would do exactly that on Thursday, when he started his day at the 10th tee in the morning, carding a total of 37 on the back nine; courtesy of three bogeys at the par-5, 12th, the par-3, 14th and the par-4, 15th holes; and a birdies at the par-5, 11th and the par-3, 16th holes.

On the first nine, he carded a total of 35 thanks to a couple of bogeys at the par-4, first and the par-4, seventh; and a couple of birdies at the par-5, sixth and the par-4, ninth for a round of 1-over par 72.

Kenya’s Dismas Indiza missed the first cut after the second Round of play on Friday. PHOTO/COURTESY

He made the cut, the third time he had achieved the feat in 13 attempts, alongside Jastus Madoya. The ‘favorites’ had all missed the cut and the country’s hopes lied in two men, who had no chance at the beginning but there was no choice for the hosting nation – the 40 plus million population would now turn their hopes on Madoya and Ngige, whose best performance at this stage was a 34th place finish in 2017. The previous year, he had come to the club house in 46th place.

This is a trend that may have escaped many, the critics especially but this is a player who was improving and his progress was focused. A third cut was introduced at the end of the third round made it a tense affair but Kenya’s best prospect had the nerves to hold on.

Ngige’s focus and determination was underscored by his performance at the back nine of round three, holing an eagle at the par-5 12th, coming on the back of his birdie at the par-4 11th.

Simon Ngige hits fourth shot off the 18th green bunker on round three of the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship. PHOTO/COURTESY

Just like every cloud has a silver lining, every star has its dim moment and for Ngige, it was his three over return at the 18th green that saw him finish the day tied on 22nd but he would have kicked his head for dropping the shots because he had soared to six shots under par.

“My first goal was to make birdie at the first hole as I haven’t managed to do so all tournament. I managed to do so, and that gave me the focus and momentum I needed for the day,” he said after the third round.

“I was playing well today and only really struggled at the last hole where I got a triple bogey. But that is golf, and we shall go again tomorrow and try and get the best from the round.”

Those words demonstrate how focused the man is, how he has grown his mental fortitude to achieve the goals he sets for himself on the course.

Now the whole country is expectant that although he may be so far off the pace of the leaders – India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, Spaniard Adri Arnaus and Guido Migliozzi, tied on 14-under, he would maintain his cool and give a good account of himself.

The bottom line is he is in the elite category of earners at the event and he can only be motivated to enhance his chances of earning a penny more by carding a performance much better than his three under at the end of the third round.

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