Home Club’s little known Eliud Bett surprised colleagues after coming of age to clinch the overall title at the par 71 Sea-Link Mombasa Golf Course on Saturday.
The handicap 25 Bett who started playing golf 24 months ago was all in celebrations after returning an excellent 48 stable ford points to emerge the overall winner in the second edition of the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Golf Tournament.
Bett’s victory came calling early after sinking a lone birdie at the par four-second hole with additional six level pars and a mixed pot of bogey shots on the rest of the 18 holes to register his maiden win.
“I started playing Golf two years ago and was delighted and honored to win this competition. I have put a great effort and practice to ensure that I played well. The weather has also been very favorable to me and I want to thank my playing partners who made my flight great where we had fun and a good game together. I wish to thank the Club and the sponsors for being part of an incredible day and looking forward to defending my position in the coming competitions, “said Bett.
The event that was graced by Kenya’s celebrity Esther Akothe currently the Uganda-Kenya Coast Region brand Ambassador, saw handicap 14 Peter Kimanga claim the Men winner slot on a count back score of 42 points displacing handicap 24 Wilfred Achila to the third place after both registered same points.
Monica Kamundi playing off handicap 33 carded 36 points to win the Lady’s title beating the Club’s former Lady Captain handicap 15 Mary Mariga to the second place with a single point difference.
Handicap 15 Andrew Miheso on 42 points and handicap 19 Dominic Makau with 16 points were the Guest and Best Effort winners respectively.
Uganda Consular General Paul Mukumbya thanked the players and invited them to attend the forthcoming third edition of the Tournament in large numbers which is scheduled to be played at Uganda Golf Club on November,09th.
He pointed out that the Mombasa edition was the second event after the first one played at Vipingo Baobab in Kilifi Club, saying the aim is to promote Tourism, Trade and Investment between Mombasa and Uganda.
“I encourage Kenyans to visit Uganda and understand why it is called the pearl of Africa as We also continue urging Uganda’s to visit Mombasa and enjoy the hot climate, historical sites and the beautiful beaches of the Indian waters among others,” said Mukumbya.
Club Chairman Paul Munyao and Club Captain Francis Muthamia expressed their excitement for the successful day and appealed to the organizers to make the tournament an annual one with a trophy being played alternatively.
Elsewhere at the Nyali Golf and Country Club Course on the same day, Veteran Senior Golfer Charles Odoo was over the moon after sinking a ‘Hole in One,’ that comes once or never in a lifetime of any Golfer.
Odoo who started playing Golf in 2008 said he used his usual branded Titleist 7 and holed it at the 18th hole that sparked celebrations by other golfers watching from the nearby Club house terrace.
The Golfer’s name will be registered in the Club house wall of fame for the remarkable luck that struck while he was also celebrating his birthday month.
“For the many years I have been playing Golf here, around the Country and outside, today is has been great and imagine the luck coming while I'm also still celebrating my birthday. God is great, “said Odoo.
There's an ‘unofficial’ rule which has become a tradition among Golfers around the World which states that if a Golfer is lucky enough to strike a ‘hole in one’, He or She will celebrate properly after his round is over, by buying a round of drinks for everyone in the Club at the Bar during that particular time.
Odoo could not escape that and went straight to the Club to ring a bell alerting the golfers around to prepare their throats for the drinks.
And though this might find a Golfer off guard, Odoo survived the heavy cost after the ICEA Lion came into his rescue to meet the heavy cost as the Insurer.
At Machakos Course, the four-ball team of Philip Kibet, Fostine Maithya, Mercy Nderitu and Daniel Salaton returned a combined score of 111 points to emerge the overall winners of the 17th leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour.
“We feel very elated and pleasantly surprised but the circumstances around today’s game and the motivation we had as a team contributed to the final result. We wanted to enjoy ourselves but we also made the difference for ourselves.
The team of Cornelius Ndumai, Crispus Katiku, Samson Matilu returned 110 points to claim second slot in the tournament attended by 131 golfers.
Handicap 25 Daniel Salaton was the overall individual winner with 41 points and handicap 17 S.K. Theuri was the man winner on 39 points.
The Lady winner on 36 count back points was handicap 34 Felistus Mativo displacing Mercy Nderitu to the second slot after both tied and handicap 33 Liz Wanjiru brought 40 points to win the Guest Prize.
And at the Kenya Airforce Golf Club in Eastleigh, Nairobi, handicap 33 Captain Joy Njagi carded 44 points to emerge the overall winner of the Commander’s Cup supported by KCB Bank.
In Division A handicap 16 Dr.E. Arigo clinched the top spot with a count back score of 35 points, tying with handicap 15 Sergeant Faith Muteti who was the runner-up.
The Division B was won by handicap 19 Dr. D. Mang’oka again on a count back score of 40 points, same points with second placed handicap 19 Colonel Kiprop.
OTHER SELECTED RESULTS; THIKA GREENS GOLF RESORT
Inter-Counties Golf Series Finals;
Overall County winner-Metumi-382points,Runners up-Kabeteshire365points,Third-Mulembe363points,Overall winner-Sipra Nyongesa (29)-49points,Gross winner-Macharia Wandere (5)-76gross,Man winner-Dr.A.Shitseswa (18)-46points,Runners up-J.R.Rwambo (24)-44points,Lady winner-Bilha Muthoni (290-45points,Runners up-Naomi Chebet (28)-44points,TGGR man winner-Ronald Meru (18)-42points,TGGR Lady winner-jackline Sirai (15)-34points,Subsidiary man winner G.N.Kang’ara (41)-52points,Subsidiary Lady winner-Sylvia Ngene (54)-44points,
Kabetshire-365points, Rware-352points, Abai-346points, Greatrift-180points, Metumi-382points, Naxvegas-239points, Sweet Banana-208points, Sunset-113points, Amerucan-71points, Machakos-220points, Embu-114points, Mulembe-363points, happy Valley-276points.
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