-Machakos Queen Consolata trains in Coast heat since last Thursday paid off in the Grand finale of the ICEA LION king of the course to books ticket to Lekoa Classic South Africa.
-King of the course Captain Joe Mboya hails the Nyali Club, the 243 players and, the 23 South Africans from Lekoa led by President Lietsisio Mohaploa for fantastic day.
-ICEA LION Group CEO Philip Lopokoiyit said the Saturday King of the course Finale was a fitting way to close out this intense calendar of activities, congratulated all winners, thanked all players, the Nyali Golf committee, for the excellent golf, great competition and friendships that stand the test of time.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS.
The 10th edition of the ICEA LION King of the Course Grand Finale was always going to need a special script, it got one, written by a 37-year-old lawyer from Machakos who barely knew how to breathe in Mombasa’s humidity on Thursday, but knew exactly how to chip on Saturday.
The 37-year-old lawyer from Machakos, came early to overcame the Coast humidity, finally and exactly knew how to chip on Saturday.
Consolata Maitha, 30-handicapper from Machakos Golf Club, was crowned the ultimate King of the course winner of winners at the 10th edition of the ICEA LION King of the Course Grand Finale at Nyali Golf & Country Club in Mombasa County on Saturday.
She carded 40 stable ford points to beat the entire “Winners of Winners” 2026 qualifying circuit, and she is already packing for South Africa.
“I trained hard since Thursday, mostly on chipping and weather adaptation. The Coast weather is different, very humid, the ball doesn’t fly the same, the greens are grainy. I had to learn afresh. But I am so excited to have emerged best and looking forward to playing the Lekoa Classic in March next year” an elated Maitha said after receiving her trophy from ICEA LION Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Philip Lopokoiyit.
That ticket to the Lekoa Classic in March 2027 is the jewel in the crown, and for three years, the ultimate winners of the King of the Course have catered for an all-expenses-paid trip to play at Lekoa Golf Club in South Africa.
This year, Courtesy of ICEA LION Group, brought Lekoa’s 23 players led by President Lietsisio Mohaploa, to Nyali and next year, Consolata will take the battle to them.
Consolata said the win was for every lady golfer who is told golf is a retirement game, “We can compete. At my age, it is a full-time job, but if you put in the work, the course rewards you. I thank the organizers ICEA LION, Nyali Golf, Machakos Golf Club for believing in us.”
If Consolata was the story of perseverance, Paul Krijnen was the story of the day’s dominance, the overall winner of the Nyali Leg, playing off handicap 22 who posted a monstrous 44 points, breating a team of 243 players.
This was the highest score of the day to claim the overall gong, as in a stable ford battle where 38 points is considered excellent at Nyali’s ocean-breeze course, his score almost indecent.
In the men’s division, class told, William Kaguta, playing off an enviable 2 handicap, showed why low handicappers fear no course, returning 43 points to be crowned the Men winner, a near-perfect round under pressure.
He was chased hard by handicap 17 Salim Taib with a count back score of 40 points for the runner-up slot after tying with handicap 15 Justine Ongere who settled for third after a countback, while Maj. Gen. Anthony Rob playing off handicap 38 proved soldiers never retire from competition, taking the fourth place.
The ladies’ category was a Coast affair with grit, where handicap 26 Mary Kinaro carded 38 count back score to win the lady’s prize, edging out handicap 32 Tabitha Mayende on the same points to countback settle for the runner-up.
Best Senior for over 65 years’ prize went to veteran handicap 19 Jatin Malde on 38 points, who beat men half his age and the future is safe as handicap 15 David Kaguru recorded 37 points to claim the junior prize, a score that showed poise beyond his years.
ICEA LION proved it doesn’t just sponsor golf, it plays it and handicap 38 Radcliffe Nyamai brought 32 points to walk home with the staff prize amid loud cheers from a large staff contingent from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Guest categories were hotly contested where Gideon Serem playing off handicap 10 brought 38 points to win the prize and handicap 31 Emmaculate Rotich emerged runner-up.
The South African link stayed alive as Tihagane Jeffrey playing off handicap 15 brought 32 points to win the Lekoa classic category, a special prize for the visiting Lekoa delegation.
And for those who believe golf is for all, the high handicappers proved it, where Dr. Omar Ramadhan playing off handicap 34 emerged the Men winner with 38 points and handicap 41 Wanjiku Wambugu with 40 points won the Ladies’ section, a proof that at Nyali, even the highest handicap can be queen.
And big hitters were also rewarded, where Tony Gachau blasted the Longest Drive Men, as the Club’s lady Captain Zaituni Mohammed took Longest Drive Lady prize, while the most precise iron of the day belonged to Rapthi De Silva, who stuck her approach to 5 feet 7 inches, away from the 18 hole to win Nearest to the Pin prize.
Big hitters were rewarded too with Tony Gachau who blasted the Longest Drive Men, while again Zaituni Mohammed took Longest Drive Lady, both powered by Takumi-San prizes and the most precise iron of the day belonged to Rapthi De Silva, who stuck his approach to 5 ft. 7”* to win Nearest to the Pin, while 8 lucky survivors each golf ball.
ICEA LION King of the course captain Joe Mboya set the tone for the evening in his welcome speech that captured the players braving the day’s Coastal heat.
“It gives me great pleasure to appreciate all as we celebrate the successful conclusion of this circuit which has been a fantastic day. The golf course has once again provided us with an opportunity to showcase not only our golfing abilities but also the values that make this sport so special, integrity, discipline, resilience, friendship and sportsmanship. Today, we have witnessed some excellent golf, great competition and, above all, the true spirit of Nyali, welcoming, competitive, and joyful. I thank ICEA LION Group for 10 years of unwavering partnership. You have not just sponsored a tournament, you have built a tradition. To all our winners, congratulations. To those who didn’t win today, there’s always one more round to do,” said Mboya.
ICEA LION Group CEO Philip Lopokoiyit said it has been a fantastic day and all including the visiting South African team for making the tournament successful.
“The Saturday King of the Course Finale is therefore a fitting way to close out this intense calendar of activities in the Coast Region. This year, the event not only hosts the ‘Winner of Winners’ competition where the winners from previous 2026 qualifying rounds compete to be crowned the ultimate King of the Course, but will also for the first time featured a team of over 23 golfers from the Lekoa Golf Club in South Africa playing at the Nyali event. Today we saw excellent golf, great competition, and friendships that stand the test of time. I congratulate all our winners and thank all players, the Nyali Golf committee, and our Board who travel every year to Mombasa where our story began in 1895. To all our champions, asanteni sana. Golf has taught us that it’s not the scorecard we keep, but the moments and memories. Karibu Lekoa Classic next March and see you for the 11th edition,” said the CEO.
It was that spirit that Aamil Mughal had captured in his poem “The Beautiful Game of Golf” earlier read just before Captain Mboya’s speech, reminding everyone that golf is not the scorecard players keep, but the moments, memories and friends.
From the 20,000 mangroves seedlings planted at Majaoni, Shanzu last Friday morning with Earthlungs Organization, to the gala at Mombasa Serena Beach Resort themed ‘celebrating partnerships that stand the test of time’, to 243 scorecards on Saturday, the 10th edition was more than golf, it was ICEA LION returning to its 1895 roots in Mombasa and planting a future.
As Group CEO Philip Lopokoiyit noted, this is a company reaffirmed ‘AAA(KE)’ by GCR Ratings, but on Saturday at Nyali, the only rating that mattered was 44 points by Paul Krijnen and 40 Points by Consolata Maitha, Queen of the Course.
March 2026, Lekoa, South Africa awaits, the Queen from Machakos is coming.
ENDS.
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