Vet Lab’s Simwa leads in Nyali Open

BY MAARUFU MOHAMED

National player Boniface Simwa of Vet Lab Club shot a three under par 68 gross to lead the first rounds of the Nyali Open Championship at Nyali Golf and Country Club in Mombasa, yesterday.

The plus two handicap player braved the scorching coastal heat to rounded up the first nines with a two under par 34, starting with an eagle on the par fifth-first hole, a birdie on the par fifth-ninth hole, a bogey and six pars.

He returned to complete the second nines with a one under par 34 after posting six pars, a bogey and two birdies on holes 11 and 13 to lead the board.

Sullivan Muthugia of Thika club who is battling out for supremacy against Muthaiga’s Collins Omondi for the Golfer of the Year 2010 award scored five over par 76 gross to take the runners up slot.

In both nines, the zero handicap player, who is also a member of the national golf team, posted a total of 12 pars, bogeyed four holes and a double bogey, and recovered with a birdie on the par fifth 11th hole.

The three rounds 54-hole tournament at the par 71 course ends today.

Season ender

The two-day event is Kenya’s golf season ender to determine the top amateur golfer in the golfer of the year (Goty) series.

The fate of Collins Omondi of Muthaiga and Muthugia from Thika, who are currently tied on 106.75 Goty points, will be decided at the end of the event today.

This would be historic in the Nyali Open Championship, which will decide for the first time the fate of two amateurs who have tied on points.

Muthugia stands a chance of winning the Goty after Omondi’s poor performance in the first round yesterday.

Omondi, who needs only two points from the tournament, was placed number 22 after completing the first rounds yesterday with a 10-over par 81 gross.

The Championship has attracted 88 leading amateurs from the region, including 16 Tanzanian national team players.

Nyali’s captain Gurbux Singh, playing off handicap four, was fourth overall on a score of six over par 77, behind Golf Park’s James Madoya, who also tied on the same points.

Among the leading Tanzanian was handicap three, Adam Mwanyenza who had a round score of eight over par 79.