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Celebrations and tears filled the air as the curtain fell on the 2023 Ladies Open Golf tour on Saturday when Kenya sadly missed out on the overall lead to Uganda.
Kenya's Esther Chumo from Eldoret Golf Club however ,saved her colleagues from their Tanzanians, Rwandese and Ugandans onslaught after rounding up the five days legs tourney with a round total of 499 gross to emerge the overall gross runners up.
Ugandan hard fighting youthful Lady golfer Martha Babirye playing off handicap 0 emerged the overall five days gross winner with a sterling round total of 478 gross to claim the 2023 Trophy which was held by Vipingo Baobab's Naomi Wafula who unfortunately failed to show up and was said to be outside the Country.
Babirye came from behind after a poor show in the first leg on Monday at Diani's Diamond Leisure Course , then she pulled up to emerge the overall gross winner in the Second leg at sea-Link Mombasa Course on Tuesday with a count back score of 79 gross.
She succumbed to the second place in the third leg a Nyali Golf and Country Club on Wednesday's 36 holes strokes play with a total of 152 gross ,same position she maintained in the fourth leg at Malindi on Friday with 84 gross and again won the runners up slot in the final fifth leg at Vipingo Baobab course on Saturday posting 81gross.
"I thank the organizers of this event and all the Kenyans including Mailind Golf Club's Zawadi Safari for their support during my stay here where this event has enabled us to make more friends and am looking forward to defending the title next year,"said Babirye.
The overall third gross prize was claimed by Tanzanian Ayne Magombe on a round total of 518 gross.
However there was a bit of smiles after Kenyans dominated the Division A nett leaderboard with Mombasa's Grace Kwamboka taking the lead on 439 nett while Nandi Bear's Irene Brooker on 453 nett and Rehema Okal from Machakos having 455 nett emerged the runners up and third placed respectively.
The five days tourney played around all the Coast Golf Club courses was organized under the umbrella of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) under the support of the Union's KLGU Coast representative Teresia Odoo.
Odoo said the events successfully held at the sunny Coast received a major sponsorship boost from various sponsors and friends of the Clubs Lady Captains Cheryl Bush of Diamond Leisure Club, Fiona Mbadi of Mombasa Golf Club, Mary Mariga of Nyali golf Club, Hamida Chidagaya of Malindi Golf club and Sue Williams of Vipingo Golf Club.
"This Ladies' Tournament was a well-received event graced by the finest lady golfers in the Country and beyond as we strive to push the sport beyond the gender barriers to attract more lady golfers to the sport. It was a brilliant event experience and a big congratulation to the winners of the winners.
However there were no shows from some players, especially some Tanzanians who could not play all the five legs saying they lacked support from sponsors.
These include Kenya's top lady players like Mercy Nyanchama,Joyce Wanjiru and Agnes Nyakio and several from Mombasa and their Tanzanians colleagues Neema Olomi and Vicky Elias who failed to show up at the Malindi leg.
But KLGU Chairlady Lydia Obonyo said that this was serious and warned that the Union will be writing a complaint note to the Tanzanian Lady golf union for disciplinary actions while those in the Country will be dealt with according to the Laws of the Union.
Elsewhere at Nakuru Golf Club on Saturday, Godwin Karuga paired with Dr.M.S.Malik, Nicholas Karoki and Geoffrey Wafula carded a combined score of 100 stableford points to emerge the overall team winners of the 9th leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour.
"I have a very amazing four-ball. We did not know each other going into the first tee but teamwork, coordination and hard work gave us the victory today. We will now continue practicing for the grand finale since we have time, "said Karuga.
Titus Lusaka, Mathew Maiyo, Mandeep Sahota, and Amardeep Jajuha returned a combined score of 95 points to emerge second in the tourney graced by 202 golfers.
The two teams will join 8 other teams that have already qualified for the grand finale set for November this year at the Karen Country Club in Nairobi.
Collins Kipkirui from Kericho Golf Club playing off handicap 10 carded an 21 and 22 in both nines for 43 points to claim the overall winner's prize.
Handicap 10 Prof. John Muriithi was the men's winner on 40 points while Felistah Njeriplaying off handicap 20 won the lady's prize with 33 points.
The Guest winner with 36 points was won by handicap 9 golfer Tony Tugee while KCB's Western Regional Business Manager Eliud Siganga playing off handicap 26 was awarded the best staff prize after carding the day's best score of 37 points.
THE 2023 LADIES COAST OPEN FULL CLUBS RESULTS;
DIAMOND LEISURE-DAY ONE-MONDAY;
Division A Best gross winner-Mwongeli Nzioka-78gross,Runners up-Neema Olomi-79gross C/B,Third-Vicky Elias-79gross,Best nett winner-Benta Khanili-73nett,Runners up-Carol Mokaya-74nett,Third-Mary Wainaina-75nett C/B.
Division B Best gross winner-Dr.Beatrice Shikuku-95nett, Runners up-Linda Munyao-97nett, Third-Joyce Kamau-98nett;
MOMBASA GOLF CLUB-DAY TWO-TUESDAY;
Overall Gross winner-Martha Babirye-79gross C/B,winner-Esther Chumo-79gross,Runners up-Joyce Wanjiru-80gross C/B,Third-Margaret Njoki-80gross,Nett winner-Irene Brooker-71nett,Runners up-Frank Loveness-72nett,Third-Lydia Chebii-74nett;
Division B winner-Rehema Okal-90gross,Runners up-Viginia Munyao-96gross,third-Nelius Kariuki-97gross,Nett winner-Regina Munyao-73nett C/B,Runners up-Petronilah Kale-73nett,third-Rose Mwarania-74nett C/B;
NYALI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB-DAY THREE-WEDNESDAY;
Overall gross winner Nyali Bowl-Neema Olomi-152gross C/B,Division A winner-Martha Babirye-152gross,Third-Margaret Njoki-155gross C/B,Division A nett winner-Noni Wanye-139nett C/B,Runners up-Benta Khanili-139nett,Third-Lucy Maina-140nett.
Division B gross winner-Dr.Beatrice Shikuku-182gross,Runners up-Irene Kimani-187gross,third-Joyce Wafula-188gross,Division B nett winner-Hellen Wanjiru-131nett,Runners up-Penina Kamau-137nett,Third-Grace Kwamboka-141nett.
Leslander Division A-Lowest nett score winning Team-Irene Brooker/Lydia Jebichii-Nandi Bears-285points.
Leslanders Division B-Lowest score winning Team-Virginia Munyao/Irene Kimeu-293points C/B.
MALINDI COUNTRY CLUB;
Division A gross winner-Martha Babirye-84gross,Runners up-Ayne Magombe-85gross,Third-Lydia Chebichii-98gross,Division A nett winner-Irene Brooker-78nett,Runners up-Lucy Maina-78nett,Third-Phylyis Kisuna-85nett.
Division B gross winner-Lydia Oketch-95gross,Runners up-Yasmin Chali-96,Third-Dr.Beatrice Shikuku-96gross,Division B nett winner-Peninah Kamau-70nett,Runners up-Pauline Gichara-73nett,Third-Wanjiku Njoroge-74nett;
VIPINGO BAOBAB RIDGE GOLF CUB;
Overall gross winner-Joyce Wanjiru-78 gross, Division A gross winner-Kelly Gachaga-80gross,Runners up-Martha Babirye-81gross,Third-Ayne Magombe-82gross,Division A nett winner-Heather Clarke-68nett,Runners up-Tatiana Geneviene-71nett,Third-Koki Mwia-72nett C/B.
Division B gross winner-M.Wairimu-96gross C/B,Runners upJoyce Wafula-96gross,third-Hellen Wanjiru-97gross,Division B nett winner-Grace Kwamboka-69nett,Runners up-Prof.Mary Kariuki-70nett,Third-Dr.Irene Ashioya-74nett C/B.
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