Caddies will often be seen carrying golf bags for golfers around the course but behind their faces lies great talents and skills that may produce excellent golfers to place the country’s flag high in the global space.
They play great roles in guiding golfers around any course in the world but after any tournament is over and they get their day’s pay by the golfer, they slowly retreat back to their homes hoping that one day their prayers to play as golfers will be answered.
This prayer was in fact answered on Monday when the outgoing Nyali Golf and Country Club Captain Dinesh Sasan organised a tournament for them after the two day’s prize golf tournament over the weekend.
And behind all the sadness on their faces, the estimated 75 caddies, both men and ladies, some who played with borrowed golf kits, turned up in full confidence to prove that they too can play and produce golf stars out of their humble grounds.
But it is single handicapped Ronald Simiyu playing off handicap 8 who was crowned the king after carding 83 gross at the par 71 Nyali course. He emerged the overall men's gross winner in the Captain’ (Dinesh Sasan) Prize Caddies tournament, beating colleague handicap 9 Kennedy Kamau to the runners up slot by a single stroke difference.
“It’s a good day to emerge the top caddy today. Indeed, I thank captain Dinesh for being so supportive to the caddies by giving some of the law handicap caddies more days of playing golf on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. With such support, I want to be one of the best players to join the Magical Kenya open and also request the incoming Captain to support us,” said Simiyu.
Stanley Ojijo playing off handicap 16 was the men's nett winner on a count back score of 74 nett after tying on the same score with second placed handicap 16 Francis Murimi.
Handicap 16 John Baraza with 75 nett and handicap 15 Leroy Timbe on 76 nett were third and fourth placed respectively.
On the ladies’ side, Janet Ouma playing off handicap 16 was crowned the queen after producing 95 gross to emerge the ladies overall gross winner.
The lady nett winner on 73 nett was handicap 20 Saina Odhiambo while handicap 24 Salome Mutamu on 74 nett and Mary Chizi on 85 nett were the runners and third placed respectively.
The club’s caddy master Kalamu choyo showered praises to the club captain Dinesh Sasan for considering to host a tournament for the caddies and also urged the club and corporates to continue with more support to the caddies.
“Today is a great day for us and was a great joy to all the caddies. We now feel as part of the club and indeed appreciate the club for being supportive and we promise that the caddies will continue to nurture more good golfers. Am now planning to set up a caddies’ calendar for this year and appeal to corporates also for their support.
The outgoing club captain Dinesh Sasan said through his support, he was thrilled to have the caddies play his tournament and promised to continue the same even asserving the club in any capacity.
“I would also urge the incoming office bearers to give the caddies two to three tournaments every week so that they too can feel that they are part of the golfing community, “noted Sasan.
During the first week of this week, the club’s senior golfer Sal Davies secured full memberships to two lady Caddies of the club namely Mary Naneu and Naomi Kikulu who are now full members of Mombasa golf club and can now play golf in any golf club around the country.
In her first tournament, Naneu who has been a caddy for the last ten years, last weekend surprised Lady golfers by emerging the lady winner on an excellent score of 41 points during the Club Captain’s (Dinesh Sasan) Prize tournament.
The Club has offered honorary membership to five of its caddie who for the last two years and they have been actively participating in the Kenya Amateur Golf Champion (KAGC) series organized by the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) being played around the country.
The five are Kalamu Choyo, Levy Timbe, Dickson Barasa, Solomon Majanga and William Odeck who won the stroke play championship last year and got a slot to play in this year’s Magical Kenya Open scheduled next month.
FULL RESULTS
Men's gross winner-Ronald Simiyu (8)-83 gross.
Runners up-Kennedy Kamau (9)-86 gross.
Men Nett winner-Stanley Ojio (16)-74nett C/B.
Runners up-Francis Murimi (16)-74 nett.
Third-Joseph Baraza (16)-75 nett.
Fourth-Leroy Timbe (15)-76 nett.
Lady gross winner-Janet Ouma (16.4)-95 nett.
Lady nett winner-Saina Odhiambo ((20)-73 nett.
Runners up-Salome Mutanu (24)-75 nett.
Third-Mary Chizi (26)-85 nett.
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