-Khanili Beats them at Thika Greens Golf Resort;
-Kilinda and Awuor Tops at Machakos and Vet Clubs Respectively;
GOLFNEWSREPORTER;
Little known Kenya Navy Captain Mesaidi Maarifa surprised a team of 180 Golfers after stamping her authority to emerge the overall winner of the Mombasa Golf Club Captain’s (Ken Mwangi) 2022 Prize Golf tournament played at the Club’s Sea-link course in Mombasa County on Saturday.
The youthful Lady Golfer Maarifa playing off handicap 31 carded an excellent 43 stable ford points to take the overall lead in the day long 18 holes tourney.
Maarifa braved the day’s harsh hot and windy climate conditions and dry course to play 22 and 21 points in both nines after sinking a single rare birdie at the par five-eighth hole with additional two level pars over a mixed bogey shots in the rest of the 18 holes to register her maiden victory this year.
She went home with top prizes of among others, a voucher for Serena Hotels, and a three star Prize trophy and was also accorded by the Club to be the Custodian holder of the prestigious Club Chairman’s Putter for the next 12 months.
“I thank all golfers, my playing partners and Sponsors for this wonderful day that surprisingly turned out to be my day full of joy. The course was tough and I can say that this Victory just happened without my expectation,” said the public shy Maarifa in her winning speech.
The event that brought together Golfers from the Coast Clubs , others from across the Country Golf Clubs and Guests of the Chairman was jointly sponsored by among others, Equity Bank,Deansbrook School,Inuka Africa,Dala Dala waters,Anuba Lodges, Serena Hotels,EABL,Fantasy Restaurant,Kericho Gold and Friends of the Chairman.
George Thama playing off handicap 13 was the Men winner with 41 points, while handicap 24 Stephen Kiruki on 39 points and handicap 25 Kamau Kuria with a count back score of 37 points were the runners up and third placed respectively.
Senior Lady golf Veteran Truphena Oyaro playing off handicap 12 brought 38 points to emerge the lady winner, beating handicap 31 Winfred Ndunge to the runners up slot by a two points difference and handicap 26 Caroline Munyi sat comfortably third with 32 points.
The Men guest prize on 37 points was won by handicap 11 Peter Gathuri and the same for Lady was claimed by handicap 28 Janet Wasike who returned a count back score of 31 points.
Left handed Golfer Elijah Ibua playing off handicap 17 won the Senior prize on 31 points and the Junior winner was handicap 11 Rasmeet Kaur who closed the day with a round of 34 points.
The Outgoing Club Chairman Ken Mwangi appreciated the presence of all golfers and sponsors that made the day successful and his Club Official for giving him total support during his entire three years in office.
“This saw the completion of the first phase of the Club’s irrigation project and I Kindly request all the Club members to extend the same support to the Club’s Incoming Chairman Paul Munyao wo has been tasked to complete the second phase of the project which includes the desalination of water from the nearby Indian Ocean. This will ensure our course is green through out, “said Mwangi.
Elsewhere at the Thika Green Golf Resort, handicap 34 Benta Khanili carded 45 points to emerge the overall winner of the Annual Metumi Golf tourney played on Saturday.
The event was jointly sponsored by Metumi Anchors, Muungano MF Bank, Kamp Insurance Agency, EABL, Hotel Bullry and Poise Limited.
Handicap 9 Boniface Kariuki returned account back score of 39 points to emerge the Metumi winner after tying on the same points runners up placed F.N.Thuo playing off handicap 11.
The Men Member winner on 42 points was handicap 20 John Nguitui and the same for Lady was claimed by handicap 23 Anne Kanyori who had a score of 40 points.
James Njeru playing off handicap 20 brought 44 points to win the Guest prize while the man Subsidiary winner of handicap 29 and above was handicap 30 Patrick Ngugi with a score of 37 points while the same for the Lady with handicap 37 and above prize was claimed by handicap 40 Rhoda Koech with a score of 50 points.
At the Machakos Country Club in the same day, handicap 23 James Kilinda carded 45 points to emerge the Member winner of the Chairman’s Chairman’s Inauguration Golf Tourney Sponsored by Aombe Clan.
Jomes Nzau playing off handicap 22 was the runners up on a count back score of 43points after tying on the same score with third placed handicap 16 Tom Mutei.
The Lady winner on 43 points was handicap 33 Nancy Kariuki while handicap 13 Alice Abere on 42points was runners up.
Other scores were-Guest winner-Naphtali Otuke (27)-35points, Winner Handicap 29 plus-Maruti Litali (39)-45points;
At the Vet Lab Sports Club also in the same day, the overall winner of the Kabete Ladies Open 2023 was handicap 8 Ashley Awuor who returned a score of 76 gross.
Other results were Division A gross winner-Esther Chumo (7)-77gross,Runners up-Chanelle Wangari (4)-78gross,Third-Agnes Nyakio (6)-79gross,Division A nett winner:-Frankie Gichuru (15)-68nett,Runners up-Grace Wanjohi (20)-69nett,Division B gross winner-Millicent Mello (25)-95gross,Runners up-Rebecca Njui (29)-97gross,Third-Susan Ngure (22)-99gross,
Subsidiary winner-Thomas Gitumbi (22)-36points, Runners up-Amos Ngonjo (100-33points, Closest to the Pin winner-Joyce Mathu, Best Effort winner-Kalee Maleli (37)-19points;
The event was jointly Sponsored by Safaricom, Kenya Wine Agencies Ltd (KWAL), ICEALION Group, Kericho Gold, Farmers Choice,Jos Hansen, Coca-Cola, B-Hyve Pure Honey, Sense of Africa, Pay Kit, Multi Choice Kenya, Tropical Heat and Tononoka Group;
At the Same Club on Friday, the Kenya Education Fund Charity Golf saw handicap 33 Peter Muasa claim the overall men winner victory after carding 42points while the runners up slot was won by handicap 9 Eric Kiruja on 41points and taking the third slot with 40 points was handicap 1 Nelson Simwa.
Other results were the lady winner-Caroline Muguku (33)-36points, Runners up-Agnes Nyakio (7)-36points, Third Njeri Lucy (50)-34points, Best Team-E. Rabong’o, H. Mbati, L. Kowiti, C. Maina-Best three total-106points;