Amateurs pitch camp at Kakamega for KGU's top gongs

Top leading Amateurs will again be trying their luck for honors and Cash money prizes in the 2023 Goldfields Trophy Golf tournament that kicks off at the Kakamega Sports Club from Friday.

The three day action which has attracted some 60 top leading Amateurs proudly sponsored by NCBA Bank and Skyward Express and is one of the ongoing 26 series organized by the Kenya Golf Union (KGU).

The Amateurs will be playing 18 holes in each of the three days to also earn points counting for the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and will also contribute to the Kenya Amateur Golf Champion (KAGC) and Club Trophy Rankings.

All the entrants will play in the first two rounds after which the top 33 and ties will make the cut to the final round on Sunday.

The defending champion John Lejirma from Kenya Railways Golf Club will be battling it out with the 2021 Champion Nelson Koech from Nandi Bears Club and players drawn from the home club.

They include among others those from Eldoret, Golf Park, Kenya Railway, Kericho, Kiambu, Malindi, Muthaiga, Nandi Bears, Nyali, Royal Nairobi, Ruiru and VetLab Golf Clubs.

A win for Lejirma will help bridge the 241 points gap with the current leader in the KAGC Ranking, Michael Karanga who is leading comfortably with 670 points.

Vetlab's Ebill Omollo who sits fourth and fifth placed Elvis Muigua of Kiambu Golf Club will also be seeking to up their positions at the top of the leaderboard.

The only lady Golfer Lydia Oketch from the home club is drawn to play in the tournament having made the entry requirements.

Club Captain James Anzabwa disclosed that the prize money is Kshs 350,000 and the club is well on course to host the tournament.

According to the draw, the event starts at 7am with the team of B.Okumu, S.Orinda and N.Muchiti while the last to tee off at 12.20 Pm will be the group of J. Gathumbi, J. Koina and L. Oketch.

Meanwhile one of the oldest golf groups in Kenya, the Sunset Golfing Society comes to the Coast for its 2023 Mombasa Edition.

Felix Ochieng , the Society's Captain said yesterday that the Mombasa edition will start today (Friday) at the Seafront Mombasa Golf Club course as a curtain raiser before the main one tomorrow (Saturday) at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country club course.

Ochiend explained that the tournament held across the Country and part of the society's calendar brings members together to play, enjoy and socialize.

Apart from the Coast Local golfers, the event has also attracted the Society's Chairman Eden Odhiambo and Vice-chairman Sylvester Odhiambo who are both ardent golfers.

The joint sponsors are Stanbic Bank, Liberty Kenya (Liberty Life and Heritage Insurance) Tysons, Riley Falcon, VIP Hotel, AAR Healthcare and Clinics, Jibu Water, and individual member sponsors.

According to the Society's calendar of events, after the Mombasa Edition , the remaining others will be held at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club on September 22nd and the Grand Sunset Final Festival will be in December at the Lakeside Nyanza Golf club in Kisumu.

Nyali Golf and Country Club Manager Eunice Masila and Mombasa Golf Club's Captain James Gitonga both said that their club courses were in excellent conditions following the rains and that the Club's Management and Board of Directors were excited and ready to host the tournament.

The Club's Chairman Kamami Njoroge will be the first to tee off at 7am from the first tee alongside lawyer Gabriel Gakuo and any other two late entries while the last team at 13.40pm will be Odhiambo playing alongside B.Omondi.G, Okuku.J and Aidah.B who will be teeing off from the tenth tee.

Elsewhere over 200 golfers will be at the Karen Country Club on Saturday for the 7^th leg of the ongoing NCBA golf series?

The winners of the overall gross, Men's category, Women's category, and juniors' category will earn their place to compete in the highly anticipated Grand Finale.

This event follows the recently concluded sixth leg of the NCBA Golf Series, held at VetLab Sports Club, which saw an impressive field of 252 golfers battling it out for top honors.

NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora said they are thrilled to be heading back to Karen which has a rich history and renowned golfing facilities that makes it the perfect setting for this tournament.

"The NCBA Golf Series is not only about the sport of golf but also about building strong connections with our customers and the community. We are excited to witness the remarkable talent and sportsmanship on display as golfers compete for their place in the Grand Finale, "said Gachora.

This year's edition consists of a total of 17 club qualifier events hosted at various golf clubs in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.

The Series has so far been played at the Railway Golf Club, Limuru Country Club, and Windsor Golf Club, Thika Sports Club, Kakamega Sports Club and VetLab Sports Club.