-Mary Kandu defends her title at Nyali as more golfers continue seeking slots for the 2024 NCBA series grand Finale to Muthaiga;
-Elsewhere Mwangi claims the legends trophy at Nanyuki and Waburi tops in Legendary tournament at Kiambu.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS;
Nyali golf and country club’s former lady captain Mary Kandu put up a brilliant display to defend the Ladies Division one title during the club’s leg of the ongoing 2024 NCBA golf series played on Saturday in Mombasa County.
The penultimate qualifying leg of the series saw the top male and female finishers in Divisions one and two, the overall winner in Division three, and the overall Junior winner book their slots for the final round of the 2024 series which will be held at Muthaiga Golf Club on November 29.
The Nyali event attracted more than 200 golfers, all aiming to punch the much sought-after tickets to the grand finale.
Kandu playing off handicap 12 then, won last year’s qualifying leg of the series at the par 71 course on countback, fending off stiff competition from Truphena Oyaro to clinch the title.
However, it was not the case this time around as the handicap 11 home player picked a comfortable win after carding 36 points.
“The course was really good although we had some rain. It feels nice that I will be participating in the grand finale and playing against the elite golfers in the country and I look forward to playing at Muthaiga and I hope to win,” said Kandu.
It was not a smooth sail in the men’s division as youthful lawyer Emmanuel Lumatete junior playing off handicap 8 beat handicap 12 Aydan Jamal on countback after both golfers returned 39 points each.
Jamal claimed the men runners up slot in the same division that featured golfers with handicaps ranging from 5 to 12.
“I attribute my win today to my four-ball which was very competitive. Golf is a game of mental strength, and I believe I played well from the first to the 18th hole. There is the finale to be played in Nairobi and I hope to emerge as the best of the best. This was a job well done by NCBA,” Lumatete said.
In Division two, left-handed golfer Elijah Ibua playing off handicap 24 scored points to claim the men’s category while Kenya navy lady captain handicap 18 Faith Muteti’s 45 points were enough to seal her the top spot.
Jack Mureithi playing off handicap 36 posted 45 points to emerge the overall winner in Division three while handicap 35 David Kaguru won the junior category with 43 points.
Limuru country club lady golfer Agnes Nyambura on 33 points and Wangoru Kihara with 38 points won the staff and guest categories respectively.
So far, 100 golfers have already qualified based on their performance in previous events, including six from Uganda and three from Rwanda.
The Director Network Business and Distribution at NCBA, Dennis Njau said,” I want to take this chance to congratulate the winners for the day following their exemplary display on the course. Their hard work earned them the chance to play at the coveted 2024 NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale on November 29th at Muthaiga Golf Club. We wish them well and hope they will represent this great club well. The series has grown and this year we have spread our golfing wings around the region to cover Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda who will have representatives playing at the grand finale in Nairobi next month.”
The series takes a week’s break before heading to the Great Rift Valley Lodge for the final local qualifying leg on October 26th.
This year’s series, launched at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club in February, has so far transversed beyond Kenya, featuring tournaments in Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda and already over 100 golfers have qualified for the grand finale.
Elsewhere at Nanyuki Sports club on the same day handicap 12 Luka Mwangi carded 41 stable ford points to emerge the Cat A men winner of the Legends golf tournament while handicap 18 Kevin Kabugi claimed the runners up slot on a count back score of 38 points tying with third placed handicap 23 William Kogi.
Purity Githui playing off handicap 19 was the lady winner on the same category with 32 points and handicap 34 Wachuka Jenny on 31 points and handicap 13 Jacob Theuri from Ruiru with 34 points claimed the runners up and guest winners’ prizes respectively.
In the CAT B section handicap 36 Henry Kamotho took command emerging the Men winner with 42 points while handicap 47 Beatrice Wanjohi brought 39 points to emerge the lady winner.
And at Kiambu golf club in the same day handicap 17 G.G Waburi returned 39 points to be crowned the overall winner of the Legendary golf tournament played at the par 72 course.
Handicap 18 Muchemi Gachugi carded 37 points to beat his closest challenger Boniface Mureithi on countback to emerge as the overall men’s winner at the tourney that was headlined by 140 top amateur golfers from around the country.
“It is a proud moment for me to beat over 100 golfers and emerge as the day’s winner. Kiambu is always a challenging course, but I came prepared. I had an incredible team of players who pushed me to do my best. I can say I had an excellent first nine and an okay back nine. My swing was there today, it contributed to the overall tally, “said Waburi.
Handicap 15 Mary Kimemia returned 38 points to bag the Lady’s title while seasoned handicap 21 golfer Ann Ngumba on 33 points finished second as handicap 47 Anne Njambi on 43 points won the subsidiary prize.
“This has been long time coming. Considering the amount of work I have been putting behind the scenes, I knew that today’s victory would come. I am so elated because this win is a testament to my undying love for the game and the passion I attach to it. The competition was tough but I put my best foot forward right from the onset. Bagging excellent points in the first and back nine. I cannot wait to participate in the competitions to come,” noted Kimemia.
The event that was powered by First Assurance, Kwetu Homes, Floor Knight, ParWorld, Gelian and Semara Hotels Machakos.
OTHER RESULTS;
RUIRU SPORTS CLUB;
ESS Equipment;
Overall winner-Julia Wangari (21)-43 points, Men winner-Stephen Mureithi (22)-43 points, Runners up-Josphat Mwai (27)-41 points, Lady winner-Beth Ngugi (29)-39 points, Runners up-Beatrice Waweru (17)-39 points,First nine winner-Stanley Mbugua (20)-22 points, Second nine winner-Kinyua Ngige (17)-21 points, Division 2 winner-Kelvin Chege (29)-42 points, Guest winner-Joel Mutuku (25)-39 points, Junior winner-Elijah Kungu (36)-36 points, Gross winner-Chris Andrea (+1)-33 points, longest drive lady winner-Jane Ndiragu,Longest drive men winner-Elias Mwangi, nearest to the pin men winner-Joseph Ndome, nearest to pin lady winner-Julia Wangari.
VETLAB SPORTS CLUB;
Mwai Kibaki Memorial Trophy;
Overall winner-Peter Njuguna (15)-43 points, Men winner-Rohan Khanna (24)-42 points, runners up-Moses Gatundu (27)-41 points, Lady winner-Rachel Ndei (13)-41 points, Runners up-Mary Karano (12)-39 points,Guest winner-Bernard Rop (34)-43 points, Sponsor winner-Charles Kamari (21)-34 points, Senior winner-Charles Munyori (26)-39 points, Junior winner-Viaan Vajpayee (27)-28 points, best front nine-Visesh Sonigra (19)-25 points,
Best back nine-Kennedy Chege (24)-22 points, Special category-Charles Ogola (30)-42 points, Ro-winner-Isaiah Otuke-72gross, Pro-runners up-John Mburu-77gross.
ENDS;
NOTE;
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