- Left Handed Golfer Simbi Wins the Sea-Link Mombasa Captain Gitonga 2022 Prize.
–German International Sports Coaches Payert and Mossa in Mombasa Supporting Four Coast Golfers,Hassan,Timbe,Barassa and Odeck.
–While Okwemba Shines in February Mug at Vet lab Sports Club;
GOLFNEWSLINKS REPORTER;
Kenya Golf Union (KGU) has unveiled its final 2023 Calendar which has been reduced to 26 events from their earlier tentative Calendar that had 32 series events.
This is according to the latest press release signed by KGU’s Vice Chairman and Tournament Director Philip Ochola.
Kenya Golf Union Vice Chairman and Tournament Director Philip Ochola.
He said the Union has released the latest calendar of events for Kenya Amateur Golf Championships (KAGC) 2023 and that they have confirmations from all clubs apart from two that have confirmed hosting of either 54 or 72 holes Championships as opposed to the traditional 36 holes that were being hosted on the 9hole courses.
“This adds value to the sponsorships that individual players get, improves their quality of play, and more so develops their resilience and mental ability to withstand pressure during competitions while the participating players will also have an opportunity to be included in the World Amateur Golf Rankings(WAGR),”said Ochola.
He noted that apart from having cash awards and allowing elite ladies to play in the KAGC events, the Union has also received a letter from the Chairman of the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Charles.J.Wangai who requested the participation of professional golfers and have a separate purse money for the lined up KAGC events.
“This comes as a backdrop of the fact that the professional Golfers have not had a chance to have many competitions across the year to prepare them for the Safari Tour and improve their skills as they look forward to the ultimate prize to participate in the DP World European Tour event held annually in Kenya, “said Ochola.
He added that this move will be an exciting year for Golfers across the country to start earning a living playing Golf and definitely make them practice more and more.
Action now moves to the third event at Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club for the Windsor Classic from 3rd-5th March before the Golfers meet again in the same month at Muthaiga Golf Club from 25th to 26th for the Muthaiga 2023 Open Championship.
These two events came after the first one with the Sigona Bowl played from 20th to 22nd January 2023 at Sigona Golf Club and the Second one at Nyeri Golf Club where they played the Mt. Kenya Championship from 4th to 5th February 2023.
In the new Calendar, among the most notable events that has been removed includes the Africa Region IV that was to be played at Addis Ababa Golf Club in Ethiopia on 5th to 11th June.
Also out of the events are the Victoria Cup in Tanzania that was scheduled on 22nd to 25th June and the Eisenhower Trophy at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier planned from 18th to 21st October,2023.
Meanwhile Coast Left handed Golfer Victor Simbi celebrated his weekend in style after emerging the overall winner of the Mombasa Golf Club’s 2022 Captain James Gitonga Prize Golf Tournament that ended on Saturday at the Club’s par 71 Sea-Link Course in Mombasa County.
Simbi playing off handicap 17 collected a differential score of 6 points from the two days event to claim the overall title and register his maiden victory this year.
The humble golfer started off on Friday with a score of 67 nett and added an excellent score of 41 stable ford points on the final day on Saturday to take the lead and register his maiden Victory for this year.
Mombasa Golf Club Cappatin James Gitonga.
“The year has opened up very well and I hope it continues the same way throughout. Today has been my day full of celebration after this victory and especially from a tournament of my friend Captain Gitionga.The course was challenging with hot weather and fast greens but I was able to hit most of my drives on the fairways and putting well in most of the greens. I would also like to thank my playing partners Andrew Miheso and Stephen Kiruki for the fun we enjoyed around the course, “said Simbi.
The event was hosted by the Club to bid farewell to its Club Captain James Gitonga after being in office for a year.
It attracted 200 Golfers from the Home Club and across the Country and was jointly supported by 17 sponsors among them Kushi Motors and InkoMoko.
Other were Pernod Ricards,Max Healthcare, Family Bank,MTS,KCB,Sasini,Travellers Beach Hotel and Club,NCBA,KWAL,Certified Nones,Sun County,Inuka Africa,BS Suma and Friends of the Captain.
Handicap 26 George Thama collected a count back differential score of 34 points to claim the runners up slot after tying on the same points with third placed handicap 13 George Thama.
Zaituni Mohamed playing off handicap 29 was the Lady winner on a count back score of 35 points, tying with runners up Joyce Masai.
The gross winner’s prize was won by Henry Kamau on a four under par 75 gross while William Kaguta was the gross winner on Friday with a seven over par 78 gross.
Sheel Dodhia on 71 nett and George Mokaya with a count back score of 71 nett were the nett winners of Friday and Saturday respectively.
Schoolboy Mwai Mariga went home with the best junior prize after returning 27 points while Sammy Kamau on 44 points and Charles Murimi with 45 points were the best past Captain and the best guest winners respectively.
The outgoing Club Captain James Gitonga thanked the Golfers for attending in large numbers and the Club officials for their total support during his time in office.
Gitonga said the golfers unfortunately missed the brand new Car prize for the “Hole in One” presented by Kushi Motors in the two days event.
He said the two days event on Friday for Men only Medal scoring off full handicap and Saturday’s stable ford scoring for Ladies who played the subsidiary competition was very successful.
Gitonga said Members of the club have been supportive including other board members towards improvement of the course and sponsorship of various tournaments.
“But it’s been a very challenging year because we have not had enough and sustainable source of water for the irrigation project but am optimistic that it will be achieved in the coming year and I wish the next upcoming office bearers to embrace unity as they move the club to the next level.
This event comes barely a week after last Saturday’s Lady Captain’s Prize Gladys’s Kasi held to bid her farewell and next will be the Club Chairman’s (Ken Mwangi) prize Tournament.
This Captain’s Prize comes a week after the Club’s Lady Captain Gladys’s Kasi Prize tournament last weekend and the Club Chairman’s Ken Mwangi Prize Tournament will be the next to be hosted on Saturday, 25th,February,2023.
And two International German-Based Sports and Mental Coaches Bernard Payert and Thomas Moosa are currently in the Country for working holidays in support of four Coast Caddies Hassan Kalamu Choyo, John Timbe, William Odeck and Dickson Barassa.
The lucky four who landed the support in form of Skills, Mental and Endurance since 2021 has been doing well in Kenya Golf Union Amateur event series across the Country and vowed to continue playing most of this year’s events as all plan to turn Professional.
“We are really grateful to these two Coaches because they raised our game of Golf and without them we would not be where we are today. We have completely improved our game and the sky’s the limit, “said the Golfers.
Elsewhere at Vet Lab Sports Club on Saturday in the February, 2023 Monthly Mug tournament the Division A winner was won by handicap Parmenas Okemwa on 67nett,Runners up was handicap 2 Steve Orinda with 70nett while handicap 9 Eric Karuga brought 73nett to claiming the third slot.
The Division B winner on 6 nett was Njani Ndiritu playing off handicap 13-64 while handicap 19 Manav Shah was the Runners up on 70nett and taking up the third slot on 72nett was handicap 15 Ken Monari.
The Division C winner was Eric Njunu playing off handicap 27 with 67nett,Runners up was claimed by handicap 24 Lukas Musembi on 67nett, while the Third slot was won by handicap 21 Ashish Khamar who had a score of 67nett.
The Division D winner was handicap 34 Shafik Dossaji who played 56nett while Runners up slot was won by handicap 30 Narendra Hirani on 66nett and Division D winner was handicap 36 Benjamin Chamweno with a score of 69nett.
S.M Otieno playing off handicap 9 was the Guest winner-S.M.Otieno with 67nett and Ladies winner on 74nett was Margaret Nyakang’o playing off handicap74nett.
ENDS.