By Maarufu Mohamed
Over 160 players will face off today at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club course in Mombasa for the Toyota Kenya golf tournament.
The 18-hole stableford tournament brings together golfers from coast golf clubs of Nyali, Mombasa, Leisure, Vipingo and Malindi. There will be guests of the sponsors with valid handicaps taking part.
According to the draw, the event tees off at 8.00am from both the first and tenth tees and the afternoon tee off will be starting at 12.13pm from the first tee.
Those teeing off from the 10th tee will start almost two hours later. The overall title will be up for grabs with last year’s winner Peter Barnard’s missing from the draw.
It was not, however, not understood whether he will make a post entry that has been allowed only in the morning draw.
The little known Barnard stunned veteran golfers last year by scoring a sterling 40 stableford points to emerge the overall winner.
But Mombasa Golf Club former Chairman Eric Nyongesa, who was the runners-up on a score of 39 points, is ready to step up the challenge though it won’t be easy judging from several single handicap golfers on parade.
Lady golfers might still find it hard since the Veteran and club’s former lady captain Florence Karimi, lady winner on a score of 35 points, will be defending her crown.
Jaffery Academy School boy Suheil Hamada, who scored 38 points to claim the junior prize, has also rolled up his sleeves ready for the challenge. He faces tough competition from junior colleagues Daniel Nduva, a national team golfer, Nicholas Soars, Agil Is Hag, Mathews Wahome and Adel Balala.
Club captain D. K. Mulli said the course is in excellent condition and warned that the current heavy winds blowing from the Indian Ocean might affect the swings.
