Mombasa youthful lawyer Emmanuel Lumatete Junior and Mary Kandu braved heavy rains to shine at the par 71 Nyali golf and country club course in Mombasa County on Saturday.
The handicap 8 Lumatete could not hide his pride after carding a count back score of 39 stable ford points to emerge the division A Men winner of the NCBA series Nyali leg that brought together a team of 214 golfers in the day long 18 holes tournament.
“Despite the rains, we had a strong competition from my four-ball team of Allan Mola, John Orioro and Charles Rob where I beat them. Iam really so excited to win the tournament after my game had gone down for a long period but seems aim getting back. I would like to thank the organizers and the club for the excellent course because no any good golf can be played without a proper organization and good course, “said Lumatete.
The club’s former lady captain Mary Kandu playing off handicap 11 was the lady winner of the same category on 36 points, retaining the title She won in the same leg of the series last year.
“I have been practicing a lot since also playing in some Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) events which is very challenging playing among the elite players in the country so I have to up my game. I love challenges though I still have a long way to go, “said Kandu.
Handicap 12 Aydan Jamal was beaten on count back to claim the men runners up slot in the same division that featured golfers with handicaps ranging from 5 to 12.
The division B section featuring golfers with handicap from 13 to 14 saw left-handed golfer Elijah Ibua playing off handicap 24 emerge the Men winner on 44 points and the Kenya Navy Lady Captain Faith Muteti playing off handicap 18 was the lady winner of the same on 45 points.
Handicap 36 Jack Mureithi recorded 45 points to the C division for golfers with handicaps between 25 to 54 and School boy David Kaguru playing off handicap 35 brought an excellent 43 points to emerge the junior winner.
Limuru country club lady golfer handicap 27 Agnes Nyambura was the staff winner with 33 points while handicap 40 Wangoru Kihara carded 38 points to win the guest prize.
The top male and female finishers of the divisions A, two, and the overall winner in division C together with the overall Junior winner made the list of six from the Nyali leg who qualified for the series 2024 grand final round to be held at Muthaiga golf club on November 29.
This year’s series, launched at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club in February, has so far transversed beyond Kenya, featuring tournaments in Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda and already over 100 golfers have qualified for the grand final.
Elsewhere at Nanyuki Sports club on the same day handicap 12 Luka Mwangi carded 41 stable ford points to emerge the Cat A men winner of the Legends golf tournament while handicap 18 Kevin Kabugi claimed the runners up slot on a count back score of 38 points tying with third placed handicap 23 William Kogi.
Purity Githui playing off handicap 19 was the lady winner in the same category with 32 points and handicap 34 Wachuka Jenny on 31 points and handicap 13 Jacob Theuri from Ruiru with 34 points claimed the runners up and guest winners prizes respectively.
In the CAT B section handicap 36 Henry Kamotho took command emerging the Men winner with 42 points while handicap 47 Beatrice Wanjohi brought 39 points to emerge the lady winner.
And at Kiambu golf club also on the same day, handicap 17 G.G Waburi returned 39 points to emerge the overall winner of the Legendary tournament as handicap 18 Muchemi Gachugi carded 37 count back points tying on same score with men winner Boniface Mureithi.
The lady winner was handicap 15 Mary Kimemia who returned 38 beating handicap 21 Ann Ngumba to the runners up slot by five points difference while handicap 47 Anne Njambi was the subsidiary winner with 43 points and handicap 51 Mercy Maina on 41 points clinched the guest prize.