-KGU boss Ochola urge Clubs to strengthen its junior programs to ensure that players from the Clubs feature as champions for the ongoing series;
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS;
Junior Golfer Elvis Muigua registered his second victory in the ongoing Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Series after scooping the 2023 Goldfield Trophy at the par 72 Kakamega Golf Club on Sunday.
This is his second victory with the first one in this year’s series in the 2023 Trans Nzoia Open Golf Championship played at the par 73 Kitale Golf Course in April.
Claiming the victory Muigua from Kiambu Golf Club had a false start in the first day on Friday carding an eight over par 80 gross, improved in the second day on Saturday with a one over par 73 gross before adding a brilliant three under 69 gross to an obvious victory in the final day on Sunday for a round total of 222gross.
His plus total six plus lead came after he was tied second going into the final round with a score of +9 while the overnight leader Godfrey Nsubuga of Mehta Golf Club Uganda had a 6 shot lead with a +3 score.
Muigua picked 6 birdies on the first nine of the final round in holes, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and got pars on the remaining 3 holes.
The second nine was not as glorious as the first after dropping four shots on 4 holes but managed to birdie the last hole to finish the nine on +3 resulting in the final round score of minus 3
The win assured Muigua an amount of Kshs 81,000 courtesy of the Co-Sponsors NCBA Bank and Fly Skyward Express.
“I had a bad start on Friday but this did not affect me at all. I had to plan well in the next rounds and remained focused and composed in my game till end and that how I managed to win. I would like all the organizers, Sponsors and players as look ford forward to the next event,” said Muigua.
Godfrey Nsubuga had a tough run in the final round producing a score of +9 and overally settled for the runner up position together with Nandi Bear’s Club Elly Barno on +12 (228gross) each.
The two got an amount of Kshs 40,500 each while John Timbe of Nyali Golf & Country Club was a close fourth with a +14 score (230gross) winning Kshs 24,200.
Kiambu’s Michael Karanga now leads in the KAGC player ranking with 670 points, followed by Kenya Railway’s John Lejirma who has 429 points and sitting third is Kiambu’s junior Elvis Muigua who has collected a total of 304 points.
The current leading Club in Club trophy is Golf Park Golf Club with 504 points, Kiambu Golf Club on 468 points lies second ahead of Vetlab Sports Club which has so far collected 416 points for third place.
Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Chairman Philip Ochola, lauded Muigua for the win and urged the Club to strengthen its junior programs to ensure that players from the Club and the region feature as champions for the series.
He also appreciated the sponsors-NCBA Bank and Fly Skyward Express, who gave their support and ensured the success of the tournament.
Club Chairman Catherine Aura thanked KGU for the inclusion of the tournament in the KAGC Series and ensuring that Kakamega is featured on the national space.
Sponsor Fly Skyward Commercial Manager Kelvin Mwasi expressed the airlines continued support of golf and appreciated the tournament administrator and referee Bernard Mwaura for ensuring that the event was held to a global standard.
He further informed the golfers of the airline’s presence in the town and the various destinations that the airline operates in including Mombasa, Nairobi, Malindi, Lamu, Ukunda, Eldoret, Lodwar and Kakamega.
The tournament was among the ongoing 26 KGU series across the country that counts towards the golfer of year points and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
Nyeri Golf Club from Friday, 6th, July will be the next action for the Mt. Kenya Championship.
GOLDFIELDS WINNERS TOP LIST;
Elvis Muigua (Kiambu Golf Club)-80-73-69-222gross,Elly Barno (Nandi Bears Club)-76-74-78-228gross,Godfrey Nsubuga (Mehta Golf Club)-76-71-81-228gross,John Timbe (Nyali Golf & Country Club )-76-78-76-230gross,Josphat Rono (Golf Park Golf Club)-81-79-72-232gross,Sammy Mulama (Golf Park Golf Club)-77-76-79-232gross,Aron Kitur (Eldoret Club)-80-78-75-233gross,Wiliam Odeck (Nyali Golf & Country Club)-78-77-79-234gross,Nelson Koech (Nandi Bears Club)-78-76-81-235gross,Joseph Gathumbi (Kenya Railway Golf Club)-76-78-82-236gross;
KAGC TOP TEN PLAYER RANKING AFTER KAKAMEGA;
Michael Karanga-Kiambu Golf Club-670points,Joh Lejirma-Kenya Railway Golf Club-429points,Elvis Muigua-Kiambu Golf Club-304points,Dennis Maara-Limuru Country Club-238points,Ebill Omollo-Vetlab Sports Club- 224points,Godfrey Nsubuga-Mehta Golf Club-192points,Sammy Mulama-Golf Park Golf Club-179points,Adel Balala-Vipingo Golf Resort-136points,Josphat Rono-Golf Park Golf Club-111points,Raphael Lemingani-Golf Park Golf Club-92 points;
KAGC TOP FIVE CLUB TROPHY RANKING AFTER KAKAMEGA;
Golf Park Golf Club-504points,Kiambu Golf Club-468points,Vetlab Sports Club-416points,Kenya Railways Golf Club-186points,Muthaiga Golf Club-170points;
ENDS;