-Home player Elly Barno takes home the Nandi Open trophy at Nandi and Kenya’s top Amateur Michael Karanja leads team Kenya to retain the Region IV trophy in Rwanda for third year running;
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS;
Kiambu’s lady golfer Joyce Wanjiru was crowned the 2024 Ladies Amateur stroke play Champion after emerging the overall winner in the tournament that ended at the par 72 Vetlab sports club in Nairobi on Sunday.
Wanjiru collected a total of 7 over par 223 gross after playing a five over par 77 gross on Friday, a three over par 75 gross on the second day on Saturday and finalized on Sunday with a one under par 71 gross to claim the overall title.
There was celebration of congratulatory messages pouring in at her Kiambu golf club’s social media platform from fellow members upon receiving the news of Wanjiru’s victory.
“It has been a wonderful three days of golfing in this pristine course and Iam indeed very delighted to be the champion of this tournament .Although it was a bad start for me on Friday, my game improved in the next two days after adjusting my puttings.This is a great moment for me and I extend my sincere thanks to the organizers, my playing partners and my people back in Kiambu including my Club members for all their support, “said Wanjiru.
Vipingo Ridge club’s Naomi Wafula was the runners up with 12 over par total of 228 gross after carding a three days round of 77,74, and 77 gross.
Junior golfer Kanana Muthomi from Windsor Golf Hotel and Country club who terrorized the Amateur golfers from day one on Friday and day two on Saturday with the lead found herself sitting third overall on a round total of 13 over par 229 gross.
Muthoni scared off the seniors with a back-to-back three over par 75 gross in the first round and the sane score in the second round to stay top on both days but her efforts unfortunately failed on the final third day on Sunday bringing home a seven over par 79 gross.
This tournament played under the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) umbrella in its ongoing calendar of events is also a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
It attracted 62 lady golfers from different clubs around the country and others from Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Elsewhere, home golfer Elly Barno registered his maiden title on home soil during the 3rd edition of the NCBA Nandi Bears Open Shield Championship that ended at the Nandi Bears golf club on Sunday.
Barno carded 69,75 and 73 gross for a combined total of 217 gross to carry home the overall lead in the tournament that brought together leading Amateurs from across the golf clubs in the Country.
He took home the top winning prize money of Ksh. 92,500 out of the Ksh.400,00 that was shared among the top winners.
Isack Makhoha of Kenya Railways golf club was the runners up on a combined total of 219 gross after registering 75,72, and 72 in the three rounds and Nakuru club’s john Kamais sat third with a total of 221 gross from rounds of 76,70 and 75 gross.
Home club’s lady golfer Faith Chemutai was the top lady with a total of 245 gross playing 82,83 and 80 gross in the three rounds.
The tournament missed the presence of Kenya’s top four players in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) rankings namely Michael Karanga, John Lejirma, Elvis Muigua, and Adel Balala.
These players were representing Kenya in the Africa Region IV Championship in Kigali, Rwanda that took place simultaneously on the same days.
This tournament is one of the ongoing 28 events in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) 2024 Calendar organized by the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) counts to Golfer of the Year award and also offers a platform for golfers to earn points to the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
And in Rwanda, Team Kenya stamped their authority to clinch the Region IV trophy for the third consecutive years after emerging victorious at the Kigali Golf Resort and Villas to retain it permanently.
The team of Michael Karanga, John lejirma, Adel Balala and Elvis Muigua dedicated their hard work, determination, and team spirit that paid off to round up the event to a total of 841 gross.
Kenya was competing against Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, Seychelles, Reunion and the host nation, Rwanda.
Uganda comprising Joseph Cwinyaai, Joseph Akena’s and Joseph Kasozi brought a total score of 875 gross to claim the second spot while host Rwanda made of Felix Dusabe, Jacques Byingiro, and Jacques Gatera were third with a total of 899 gross.
Mauritius and Seychelles both recorded 906 gross to tie for fourth place while Ethiopia was placed fifth on a combined score of 994 gross.
Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) and immediate Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Chairman Philip Ocholla thanked the players, the Technical Director and the Government for their support that produced the outstanding performance saying this now sets the stage for the team’s participation in forthcoming the All-Africa Championship.
Next year’s tournament of the same event will be held in Mauritius.
TOP TEN LEADERS AND TIES-LADIES AMATEUR STROKES PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP;
1-Joyce Wanjiru-Kiambu Golf Club (+7)-77-75-71-223gross.
2-Naomi Wafula-Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort (+12)-77-74-77-228 gross.
3-Kanana Muthomi-Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club (+13)-75-75-79-229 gross.
4-Kellie Gachaga-Karen Country Club (+15)-77-77-77-231 gross.
5-Mercy Nyanchama-Njoro Country Club (+20)-80-75-81-236 gross.
6-Madina Iddy-Arusha Gymkhana Club (+22)-84-76-78-238 gross.
7-Neema Olomi-Arusha Gymkhana Club (+25)-79-77-85-241 gross.
8-Belinda Wanjiru-Vet Lab Sports Club (+28)-82-80-82-244 gross.
T9-Bianca Ngechu-Muthaiga Golf Club (+29)-86-79-80-245 gross.
T9-Ashley Awuor-Royal Nairobi Golf Club (+29)-85-80-80-245 gross.
T9-Peace Kabasweka-Uganda Golf Club (+29)-81-83-81-245 gross.
T12-Margaret Njoki-Golf Park Golf Club (+32)-86-80-82-248 gross.
T12-Nancy Wairimu-Golf Park Golf Club (+32)-84-81-83-248 gross.
ENDS;
NOTE;
WANT YOUR GOLF/SPORTS/BUSINESS/ENVIRONMENT/HEALTH/OPINIONS/SPONSORED CONTENTS OR BUSINESS PROMO FEATURED IN THIS SITE?
KINDLY CONTACT US;
mmaarufu@gmail.com/golfnewslinks@gmail.com
Phone/What’s up…+254726614604/+254722415598.
