-But hard fighting Kenyan Ladies dominated the Nett Category leadership board.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS;
Uganda’s Martha Babirye rounded up the five days 2023 Ladies Open Golf Competition tour on a round total of 478 gross to be crowned the overall gross champion after the final end of the event played at Vipingo Baobab Ridge Golf Course in Kilifi County.
The youthful handicap 0 lady Golfer Babirye claimed the 2023 Trophy held by Vipingo Baobab’s Naomi Wafula who failed to participate in all the legs and was said to be outside the Country.
Babirye’s started off on a false note in the first leg on Monday at Diani’s Diamond Leisure Course , then she pulled up to emerge the overall gross winner in the Second leg at sea-Link Mombasa Course on Tuesday with a count back score of 79 gross.
She succumbed to the second place in the third leg a Nyali Golf and Country Club on Wednesday’s 36 holes strokes play with a total of 152 gross ,same position she maintained in the fourth leg at Malindi Golf and Country Club course on Friday with 84 gross and again won the runners up slot in the final fifth leg at Vipingo Baobab course on Saturday posting 81gross.
“I thank the organizers of this event and all the Kenyans including Mailind Golf Club’s Zawadi Safari for their support during my stay here where this event has enabled us to make more friends and am looking forward to defending the title next year,”said Babirye.
Kenya’s Esther Chumo from Eldoret Golf Club was the gross runners up with a round total of 499 gross while the third gross prize was won by Tanzanian Ayne Magombe on a round total of 518 gross.
But Kenyans dominated the Division A nett leaderboard with Mombasa’s Grace Kwamboka taking the lead on 439 nett while Nandi Bear’s Irene Brooker on 453 nett and Rehema Okal from Machakos having 455 nett emerged the runners up and third placed respectively.
The five days tourney played around all the Coast Golf Club courses was organized under the umbrella of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) under the support of the Union’s KLGU Coast representative Teresia Odoo.
Odoo said the events successfully held at the sunny Coast received a major sponsorship boost from various sponsors and friends of the Clubs Lady Captains Cheryl Bush of Diamond Leisure Club, Fiona Mbadi of Mombasa Golf Club, Mary Mariga of Nyali golf Club, Hamida Chidagaya of Malindi Golf club and Sue Williams of Vipingo Golf Club.
“This Ladies’ Tournament was a well-received event graced by the finest lady golfers in the Country and beyond as we strives to push the sport beyond the gender barriers to attract more lady golfers to the sport. It was brilliant event experience and a big congratulation to the winners of the winners.
However there was no shows from some players especially some Tanzanians who could not play all the five legs saying they lacked support from sponsors.
These includes among others Kenya’s top lady players like Mercy Nyanchama,Joyce Wanjiru and Agnes Nyakio and several from Mombasa and their Tanzanians colleagues Neema Olomi and Vicky Elias who failed to show up at the Malindi leg.
But KLGU Chairlady Lydia Obonyo that this was serious and warned that the Union will be writing a complaint note to the Tanzanian Lady golf union for disciplinary actions while those in the Country will be deal with according to the Laws of the Union.
THE 2023 LADIES COAST OPEN FULL CLUBS RESULTS;
DIAMOND LEISURE-DAY ONE-MONDAY;
Division A Best gross winner-Mwongeli Nzioka-78gross,Runners up-Neema Olomi-79gross C/B,Third-Vicky Elias-79gross,Best nett winner-Benta Khanili-73nett,Runners up-Carol Mokaya-74nett,Third-Mary Wainaina-75nett C/B.
Division B Best gross winner-Dr.Beatrice Shikuku-95nett, Runners up-Linda Munyao-97nett, Third-Joyce Kamau-98nett;
MOMBASA GOLF CLUB-DAY TWO-TUESDAY;
Overall Gross winner-Martha Babirye-79gross C/B,winner-Esther Chumo-79gross,Runners up-Joyce Wanjiru-80gross C/B,Third-Margaret Njoki-80gross,Nett winner-Irene Brooker-71nett,Runners up-Frank Loveness-72nett,Third-Lydia Chebii-74nett;
Division B winner-Rehema Okal-90gross,Runners up-Viginia Munyao-96gross,third-Nelius Kariuki-97gross,Nett winner-Regina Munyao-73nett C/B,Runners up-Petronilah Kale-73nett,third-Rose Mwarania-74nett C/B;
NYALI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB-DAY THREE-WEDNESDAY;
Overall gross winner Nyali Bowl-Neema Olomi-152gross C/B,Division A winner-Martha Babirye-152gross,Third-Margaret Njoki-155gross C/B,Division A nett winner-Noni Wanye-139nett C/B,Runners up-Benta Khanili-139nett,Third-Lucy Maina-140nett.
Division B gross winner-Dr.Beatrice Shikuku-182gross,Runners up-Irene Kimani-187gross,third-Joyce Wafula-188gross,Division B nett winner-Hellen Wanjiru-131nett,Runners up-Penina Kamau-137nett,Third-Grace Kwamboka-141nett.
Leslander Division A-Lowest nett score winning Team-Irene Brooker/Lydia Jebichii-Nandi Bears-285points.
Leslanders Division B-Lowest score winning Team-Virginia Munyao/Irene Kimeu-293points C/B.
MALINDI COUNTRY CLUB;
Division A gross winner-Martha Babirye-84gross,Runners up-Ayne Magombe-85gross,Third-Lydia Chebichii-98gross,Division A nett winner-Irene Brooker-78nett,Runners up-Lucy Maina-78nett,Third-Phylyis Kisuna-85nett.
Division B gross winner-Lydia Oketch-95gross,Runners up-Yasmin Chali-96,Third-Dr.Beatrice Shikuku-96gross,Division B nett wnner-Peninah Kamau-70nett,Runners up-Pauline Gichara-73nett,Third-Wanjiku Njoroge-74nett;
VIPINGO BAOBAB RIDGE GOLF CUB;
Overall gross winner-Joyce Wanjiru-78 gross, Division A gross winner-Kelly Gachaga-80gross,Runners up-Martha Babirye-81gross,Third-Ayne Magombe-82gross,Division A nett winner-Heather Clarke-68nett,Runners up-Tatiana Geneviene-71nett,Third-Koki Mwia-72nett C/B.
Division B gross winner-M.Wairimu-96gross C/B,Runners upJoyce Wafula-96gross,third-Hellen Wanjiru-97gross,Division B nett winner-Grace Kwamboka-69nett,Runners up-Prof.Mary Kariuki-70nett,Third-Dr.Irene Ashioya-74nett C/B.
OTHER KENYA WEEKEND CLUBS DRAWS;
MACHAKOS GOLF CLUB;
Bayer East Africa;
Overall winner-Joseph Kavivya (23)-43points,Runners up-Ben Mumo (16)-42points,Third-David Mwagangi (14)-41points,High handicap men winner-Nimrod Mwagangi (29)-46points,High handicap lady winner-Lucy Njeri (39)-47points,Lady winner-Mercy Nderitu (31)-36points,Runners up-Linda Kikuvi (31)-29points,Guest winner-Timothy Rintari (26)-44points,Runners up-Patrick Abira (11)-43points,First nine winner-Joseph Gitau (25)-23points,Second nine winner-D.K.Muli (37)-24points,Longest drive winner Lady- Ivy Katee,Longest drive winner Men-Paul Kyengo;
ENDS;