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Kiambu's Michael Karanga celebrated the weekend in style after breaking a course record at the Sea-Link par 71 Mombasa golf Club course, Mombasa County.
This was during the third final day in the 2023 Coast Open Championship where Karanga carded a seven under par 64 gross to break the Club's course record lastly set by Garry Cullen in 1986 in the same event and Ben Okello's in 1991 during a mug event.
Karanga emerged the overall winner in the three days 54 holes event on a total of 206 gross to be crowned the overall Champion.
He came from behind in the first day with a 3 over par 74 gross on Friday, played a 3 under 68 gross in the second day on Sunday before finalizing the last day on a 7 under par 64 gross to win the overall title and a prize money of ksh.92,500.
The Golfer who registers his sixth title in the series is currently the top leader in the ongoing Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) events being played around the Country.
"Iam extremely honored to have broken the course record in the Coast open 2023. I started off slowly before my game picked off in the second and third rounds putting out my best in this beautiful course. I hope to defend the title next year," said Karanga.
Uganda's Godfrey Nsubuga from Mehta Club , Josphat Rono of Golf park and Kenya Railway's John Lejirma all tied for the second slot after each completed with 220 gross.
Vet Lab's Brian Edgar and Golf Park's Sammy Mulama each returned the same score of 224 gross to claim the third slot.
The top Lady golfer was Kiambu's Joyce Wanjiru who carded a total score of 230 gross and claimed a slot among the top 30 leaders.
Unfortunately ,all the 75 Amateurs who registered to play in the event missed the brand new Toyota Camry worth Ksh.2 million prize that was offered by Kushi Motors after all failed to sink a "hole in one" in the three days.
This event organized by the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) and marks the 103rd Barry Cup, was being played for the first time as a 54-hole event to enable the elite amateur an opportunity to earn World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
Club Chairman Paul Munyao and his Captain James Gitonga thanked all the Golfers ,KGU officials and the sponsors for making the tournament successful.
They said the Barry cup continues its strong run as the premier sporting event for amateurs in the region where it draws massive support from the growing golf fraternity.
"Apart from the finesse exhibited in the field by the select elite amateurs during the championship, it has also emerged as a gem of socialization and the festive camaraderie that pervades the ocean facing the club is usually the premium outing for the regional and upcountry tourists, "said Munyao and Gitonga.
The event's entry was limited to 78 players with 16.4 handicap index and below and was jointly sponsored by NCBA, Kalmar, Britam, Majani Insurance Brokers and Kushi Motors.
Club records indicate that the Barry Cup is the oldest Golf trophy competed for in the Kenyan Coast having first been donated to the Mombasa golf Club in 1913 by Percy Barry who was not only a founder member of the Club but was also the first Honorary Treasurer and Captain for a whopping four times.
The Championship since its inception in 1913 is the most premier golfing event in the country held under the auspices of the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) in a series of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC).
The Championship has since then, been played at the club house except from 1940-45 during the Second World War;
TOP TEN LEADERS AND TIES-COAST 2023 OPEN (BARRY CUP);
Michael Karanga-206gross,Godfrey Nsubuga-220gross,Josphat Rono-220gross,John Lejirma-220gross,Edgar Brian-224gross,Sammy Mulama-224gross,Ebill Omollo-225gross,John Koina-226gross,Gurbux Singh-229gross,Henry Kamau-229gross,Joyce Wanjiru-230gross,Steve Kairo-230gross.
