It's a close shave for Kirimi in Nanyuki

Nanyuki Sports Club’s lady golfer Jenny Wachukia. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Home club’s Ian Kirimi braved all odds including chilly weather to emerge the overall winner of the Chairman’s (Joseph Mwangi) 2024 Prize golf tournament played at the nine-hole Nanyuki Sports club course around the foothills of Mount Kenya in Laikipia County on Saturday.

The handicap 26 Kirimi’s victory came after carding 17 and 22 points from both nines and also survived on a count back score of 39 Stableford points to claim the top spot in the day long tournament beating a team of 150 golfers.

“Although it was cold and chilly, I was well focused and playing on a maintained course led to emerge the winner, “said Kirimi.

He had tied on the same score with handicap 22 Iain Njirani who was the men winner beating handicap 14 Kuldip Hunjan to the runners up place by a single point difference and handicap 28 Duncan Kimuyu was third on a score of 37 points.

Becky Ngatia playing off handicap 29 was the lady winner on the day’s best score of 40 points while handicap 33 Jenny Wachuka with 34 points and handicap claimed the runners up spot.

The gross winner’s prize on 77 gross was won by handicap 5 Mark Kirimi as Patrick Karami on 33 points and Edwin Nyuguto with 32 points were the guest winner and runners up respectively.

Kevin Powell brought 39 points to win the Men Cat B prize and the same for the lady was claimed by Sarah Gatumbo on 24 points and School boy Tugi Gaitho was the junior winner after recording 26 points.

The tournament was organized by the outgoing club Chairman Joseph Mwangi to bid him farewell after the completion of his tenure.

Mwangi noted that the club was doing well on top of being among the best in Mount Kenya Region and appreciated the work done by the Club’s former chairmen and all the golfers for turning up in large numbers.

“I urge all the members to continue supporting the club and all its activities in order to make the sport of golf grow further, “said Mwangi.

Elsewhere, the four-ball of Tabitha Kiragu, Peter Thuku, Joseph Kamiri and Jacob Theuri carded a combined score of 104 points to emerge the overall winners of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour played at the par 72 Ruiru Sports Club on Saturday.

“It is an honor to win this last leg of the Series. Despite tough competition and less than ideal weather, we persevered. A big thank you to my four-ball for an amazing outing, we are excited to represent Ruiru at the grand finale,” said Kiragu.

The team of Kimani Munyua, Catherine Kamene, Rose Kagio and Michael Waititu with a combined score of 101 points claimed the runner-up spot in the tournament graced by 204 golfers.

Both teams will compete in the tour’s grand finale slated for December 6 at the Sigona Golf Club.

Handicap 23 golfer Kamau Wangondu, carded an excellent 42 Stableford points to emerge the overall individual winner while Joseph Kamiri playing off handicap 18, returned 40 points to bag the Men’s winner prize.

Emmaculate Mbugua playing off handicap 26, returned 40 Stableford points to emerge the best lady and handicap 44 Ryan Waithata was the junior winner on 44 points.

The guest winner on 37 points was handicap 10 Anthony Muita while Allan Kirui, who plays off handicap 22, returned 36 points to take home the staff winner prize beating handicap 21 Nelson to the runners up spot by two points difference.

And at the Kisii Sports club also on the same day, golfers Elijah Simba, Christopher Maoto, Christine Nyangena, and Venus Taabu became the most recent inclusions to book their Slots for the 2024 NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale set to be played on November 29 at the Muthaiga Golf Club following their triumphs in respective categories on Saturday.

Simba returned an impressive score of 68 nett playing off handicap 21 to emerge the overall winner ahead of handicap 8Zack Bichoge who scored 72 nett.

Simba attributed his victory to his competitive four-ball which pushed him to better and the Club for making this event a reality.

“I found myself with two guys who happen to be seniors in golf here and they were giving me a lot of pressure. That was the former captain and the former chairman, which pushed me a lot,”said Simba.

Playing off handicap 8, Maoto also carded 74 nett to be crowned the men’s winner while handicap 26 Nyangena claimed the lady’s prize with 72 nett points and Taabu carded 66 points playing off handicap 44 to win the junior category.

The four golfers join over 100 other golfers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda who already had booked their slots for the Muthaiga event from the previous events held throughout the year.

One more regional qualifying tournament is set to take place in Tanzania next weekend on November 24th at the Kili Golf Club to determine the final team that will book a slot for the season finale.

MOMBASA GOLF CLUB;

November 2024 Mug;

Division A winner-Feisal Lasker (6)-64 nett.

Runners up-Joel Mochanga (8)-67 nett.

Third-Maina Gichungu (12)-71 nett.

Division B winner-Elvis Nduati (17)-68 nett.

Runners up-Dixon Wariunge (15)-70 nett.

Third-Paul Koech (16)-74 nett.

Division C winner-Wilfred Achila (23)-70 nett.

Runners up-Danson Mutero (23)-73 nett.

Third-Abel Cheboi (27)-75 nett.

Division D winner-Julius Nganga (33)-69 nett.

Best gross winner-Feisal Lasker (7)-70 gross.

Best guest winner-Ndiga Githae (7)-79 nett.

November 2024 Medal;

Division B winner-Everlyn Kerubo (23)-69 nett.

Runners up-Connie Achila (31)-70 nett.

Division C winner-Rosemary Thuo (50)-98 nett.

Best Putts winner-Everlyn Kerubo-29 putts.

VETLAB SPORTS CLUB;

Captain’s (Vincent Landa)-2024 Prize;

Round 1 overall winner-Tom Chirchir (13)-70 nett.

Men winner-Mukhisa Kituyi (22)-71 nett.

Runner up-Francis Mugo (16)-71 nett.

Third third-Paul Okoth (14)-72 nett.

Ladies’ winner-Anisya Ibragimova (23)-75 nett.

Runner-up-Priscilla Karobia (22)-76 nett.

Third-Veronica Muthiani (20)-78 nett.

Round 2 winner-Samuel Gitau (11)-71 nett.

Round 2 best front nine men winner-John Barorot (11)-23 points.

Runner up-Sanjay Thakkar (22)-22 points.

Guest winner-Paul Ngugi (15)-15 points.

Best back nine men winner-Mukhisa Kituyi (21)-23 points.

Runner up-Tom Chirchir (13)-21 points.

Third-Roy Bore (17)-20 points.

Special category winner-Peter Ngángá (32)-23 points.

Vet Lab staff overall winner-Judy Nafwa (40)-59 nett.

Vet Lab staff men winner-Daniel Wambua (9)-71 nett.

Runner up-Eliud Manyala (32)-78 nett.

Vet Lab staff lady winner-Isabella Wanjiku-144 gross

Runner up-Ruth Bett-149 gross.