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A Mombasa middle-aged businessman Swaleh Omar was all smiles after braving the current unusual coastal heat to be crowned the Nyali 2024 Lion King of the course beating a team of 258 golfers in the day long stable ford tournament.
The handicap 24 Omar returned an excellent score of 43 stable ford points to emerge the day’s overall winner in the concluded ICEA lion King of the course grand finale played at the par 71 Nyali golf and country club course in Mombasa County on Saturday.
“Thank you so much for this incredible honor. First, I want to thank my fellow competitors for making this tournament so challenging and exciting. Your talent inspires me every day. A big thank you to my friends for their unwavering support. You’ve been my backbone throughout this journey. I want to acknowledge the supporters of this event, organizers and volunteers for putting together such a fantastic event and Iam truly humbled tonight for such an honor. Let’s keep the spirit of the game alive, and I look forward to seeing you all out on the course again soon,”said Omar.
Handicap 10 John Agui of Nandi Bears golf club returned a score of 38 points to emerge the king of the course winner of winners in the tournament that featured golfers from the home club, Ruiru, Thika Greens, Nanyuki and the Sea-Link Mombasa golf club.
The men winner prize was won by handicap 26 Geoffrey Kisaka on 42 points beating handicap 19 Walter Keya to the runners up slot by a two points difference while handicap 9 Joseph Oluoch on a count back score of 39 points was third after tying on the same score with fourth placed handicap 20 Charles Odoo.
Nancy Gathunga playing off handicap 26 brought 40 points to emerge the lady winner and handicap 26 Janet Wasike was the runners up on 39 points.
The best senior prize for players of over 65 years old was won by handicap 23 Ijaz Sheikh on 41 points while school boy handicap 23 Ethan Kinuthia carded a count back score of 31 points to claim the Junior prize.
ICEA staff winner on 36 points was won by handicap 30 Jane Munyori as handicap 18 Bernard Mutua registered a count back score of 42 points to win the guest prize beating handicap 33 Milkah Wanjiku to the runners up slot after both tied on the same score and handicap 17 David Mwagangi was third with 41 points.
Dr. Hassan Khamis playing off handicap 33 scooped the high handicappers’ men prize with 40 points and the same for the lady was claimed handicap 38 Mercy Wafula who had a score of 42 points.
Kennedy Kisoi and Christin Ockotch scooped the longest men and lady winners’ prizes respectively while Eliud Bett went home with the nearest to the pin prize after his shot landed only 11 feet away from the 18th hole.
Club Captain Dinesh Sasan thanked the organizers and the golfers for making the event enjoyable and successful, promising that next year it will be bigger and better.
The series captain Joe Mboya of Machakos country golf club who brought in the largest numbers of 45 golfers was delighted saying the tournament delivered an unforgettable experience for the players, golf enthusiasts, and spectators alike.
The Chief guest Philip Lopokoiyit pointed out that this was the last tournament of the year which is the 8th leg of the King of the Course golf series since it was started and the 6th, edition which marks the end of the 2024 series.
“This has been a successful King of the course year where we have seen over 1600 golfers participate and I thank all the golfers and the clubs for their participation,” said Lopokoiyit.
Elsewhere at Naivasha also on the same day, home player Stephen Gichari put up a spirited fight to emerge the overall winner at the final qualifying leg of the 2024 NCBA golf series played at Great Rift Valley lodge and golf Resort.
This was the last local qualifying event in the series that teed off in March at the Kenya Railway Golf Club, with qualifying events not only across the country but also across the region to Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda.
The handicap 5 Gichari carded 36 points to beat a team of 150 golfers and lead a contingent of five other players from the club who booked their slots for the grand finale set for next month at the Muthaiga golf club.
The Naivasha event saw the top male and female finishers in Divisions one and two, and the overall winner in Division three, together with the overall Junior winner reserve their spots for the grand finale.
He had tied on the same score with handicap 17 George Mukundi who was the men winner while Sissel Rene scored 36 points as well to emerge the lady winner.
as handicap 17 George Mukundi and Agnes Githinji claim the men’s and ladies' Division Two prizes respectively as well as their slots in the finale.
Handicap 29 Svein Rene was the overall winner in Division three after posting 37 points while Sacha Abbonizio won the junior category with 35 points.
One more regional qualifying tournament is set to be in Tanzania next month to determine the final team that will book a slot for the season finale.
OTHER SELECTED RESULTS; MOMBASA GOLF CLUB;
Friday club-nite by ICEA Lion;
Best gross winner-Henry Kamau-73gross,18 holes winner-Martin Irungu-66nett, runners up-Willy Sang-68nett, third-Edwin Kiptoo-69nett, best guest-Walter Keya-65nett, runners up-Matia Mandela-68nett,9 holes winner-Orpha Wamaitha-33nett, runners up-Owen Kwalia-34nett, third-John Mugo-36nett C/B.
