By Oscar Pilipili
Last year’s Dasani Golf Gala’s grand finale’s winning team member Nassar Abbas will be going for a repeat performance at this year’s finale after earning qualification for the second time in a row, but this time with different members.
Abbas, playing off handicap 17, posted an impressive score of 38 points made up of 20 stableford points in the first nine and 18 in the second nine to anchor his team to the second position during the fifth qualifier of the ongoing Dasani Golf Gala at the nine-hole Railway Golf Club on Saturday.
His team managed a combined score of 109 points, just losing to the winning team by a single point but still clinched a ticket to the finale slated for September 29 at the Karen Golf and Country Club.
Other members of Abbas’ team included handicap 26 D. Kaburi who posted 37 points, handicap 26 H Hasanli, who contributed 31 points and G S Padam, playing off handicap 12, was the team’s weakest link on 31 points.
Home player James Mburu Muigai anchored his team to victory at the action packed round, thanks to a team score of 110 points.
Muigai, playing off handicap six, carded identical 20 stableford points in both nines for a score of 40 points, while Robert Maina playing off handicap nine, had 35 points and handicap five Frank Kaniaru had 35 points as well.
Weakest link
David Mbatia, playing off handicap four, was the team’s weakest link on 30 points.
Samuel Ndonga, playing off handicap 10, won the Junior prize on 36 points of 17 points in the first nine and 19 points on the outward nine, while Anthony Mwaura won the men’s longest drive prize and Rosemary Omanyo had the women’s longest drive. Limuru’s Gakuo Macharia was the guest winner and Thinji Miano had the nearest to the pin.
Best courses
“The winning team will play at some of the best golf courses in the region, including the Dubai Creek Course and the challenging Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club, a course designed by former world number one and six-time major Champion Sir Nick Faldo,” said Steve Maikweki, Coca-Cola Limited assistant brand manager who graced the prize giving ceremony.
