At 72, Haren Patel is aging like fine wine
Golf
By
Mose Sammy
| Jul 08, 2024
While most players his age would be struggling with form, 72-year-old Haren Patel is not.
His performance on the golf course has been exemplary, if not soul-soothing. At the Sigona Golf Club, Patel proved that age is just but a number as he clinched the overall title at the Moyo Casino Golf tournament.
Playing off a handicap of 14, Patel was the first to tee off at 6:30am alongside Nawaz Popat, Adil Popat, and Ken Okinama.
However, misty conditions caused a false start, and Patel dropped five shots through the 14th hole.
Despite the rough start, he ended the inward nine at 2-over gross after picking three birdies, thanks to great drives and flawless putting.
He combined 23 stableford points from the front nine with an additional 20 stableford points from the back nine, achieving an authoritative winning score of 43 stableford points.
"I had to strike the driver for distance at my age. Despite the bad start, I still made up for it with a good score after sinking most of my putts easily," Patel said.
Sponsored by Moyo Casino and Ezo Restaurant, the event provided golfers with a live roulette casino experience.
Sameer Nanji scored the highest points, winning an iPhone 15 for his trouble. Moyo Casino are the sponsors of Sigona TannaHill and Patrons Cup team.
With a handicap of 30, Pan Gang posted 42 stableford points to secure the second prize overall, while Kinyanjui Ndenderu, with a handicap of 15, scored 41 stableford points and claimed the third prize overall.
In the gross category, Ronak Malde, playing off handicap 2, secured the Gross prize with 71 points, and Adam Tayebjee won the Gross winner second prize with 73 Gross points.
Umesh Shah, playing off handicap of 29, triumphed in Division after scoring 38 stableford points.
The Guest winner prize was won by Sam Nyamweya, with a handicap of 15, after returning a score of 36 stableford points.
James Kamau and Preet Shah won the First Nine prize with 23 stableford points and the Second Nine prize with 24 stableford points, respectively.
Kuldip Devgun claimed the Longest Drive Men prize on the 18th hole, and Lady Captain Michelle Muhanda won the Longest Drive Lady prize.
Atish Malde and Gakenia Kimani won the Nearest to The Pin Men and Lady winner prizes, respectively, for dialing in their shots closest to the hole.
Fifteen twos were recorded during the meet, with notable performances from Ketul Tanna (14), Betwel Ogwayo (3), Kuldip Devgun (3), Mary Wainaina (3), Nihal Shah (3), Gakuo Ndirangu (11), among others.