Awuor’s splendid swings make the difference at Royal Golf Club

Ashley Awuor tees off on the 14th hole at Royal Nairobi Golf Club during Kenya Ladies Golf Union Chairman (Sarah Hoare) Prize 2022, January 29, 2022. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

With a sterling score of 73 gross points, Ashley Awuor claimed the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) Chairman (Sarah Hoare) prize at Royal Nairobi Golf Club, over the weekend.

A great tournament by all standards to celebrate the end of Hoare’s reign at the Ladies golf governing body, saw a field of 322 golfers participate in the two-day event.

The tournament was presented by SBM Bank, Kenya Tourism Board, Safaricom, AAR Healthcare, Heritage Hotels, East African Breweries Limited and Coca-Cola, among others.

Awuor, playing off handicap 5, had the best score on the course to emerge victorious ahead of another top lady golfer Naomi Wafula, playing off handicap 2.

Wafula, from Golf Park, returned to the club house with 74 gross points.

Other winners in the star-studded Division A category included handicap 5 Agnes Nyakio on 75 gross points, who pipped her Vet Lab Sports Club compatriot Mercy Nyanchama, playing off handicap 2.

Division B winners were led by Kenya Railway Golf Club Lady Captain Ruth Omwansa, who posted 95 gross to beat her club-mate Faith Githaiga and Virginia Munyao to second and third winners places. Naomi Wambui, with 96 gross, was fourth.

In the nett category; another top Golf Park amateur Aisha Duba claimed the top accolades returning a superb 68 nett score, which was a stroke better than handicap 6 Naomi Wairimu, on 69 nett.

KLGU Executive Mukami Wangai, playing off handicap 19, made a podium finish with 71 nett while Grace Kibe came in fourth with a similar score.

Caroline Okeyo, playing off handicap 29, had 68 nett to emerge victorious in Division B.

JaneAlice Mutuota was second on a score of 70 nett, while Rehema Okal, playing of handicap 28, was third on 71 nett. Stella Ondimu was fourth with 71 nett.

Leading in the Men Guest category winner was handicap 16 Lucas Oluoch with a commanding score of 63 nett, while Sylvester Odhiambo, playing off handicap 11, was second with 66 nett. 

Limuru Country Club’s Kirumba Mukuria came in third on a score of 68 nett.

Handicap 10 Belinda Wanjiru won the Best Junior golfer prize after returning 74 nett ahead of Audrey Gachora, who carded 76 nett, off handicap 22.

Best Past KLGU Chairman prize went to Phyllis Kimbo, playing off handicap 22, on a score of 76 Nett.

Away at the par-72 Thika Sports Club, Lucy Gitonga emerged overall winner during Chairman (Nicholas Kabare) prize on a compact score of 40 stableford points.

Gitonga combined 20 identical stableford points from both nines, beating BM Kimani to Men winner on countback with a similar 40(20+20) stableford points.

Men winner second prize went to handicap 19, Simon Mbote, one point shy at 39 (19+20) stableford points.