Esther Karuga wins Britam Golf Championships

Handicap 16 Esther Karuga (in red) receives top prize from Britam Group Managing Director Tom Gitogo after winning Britam Golf Day at Nakuru Golf Club on May 4, 2024.[Ben Ahenda,Standard]

Firebrand handicap 16 Esther Karuga shocked a field of 210 golfers after amassing a total of 43 stable ford points to win the Britam Golf Day Championships at Nakuru Golf Club on Saturday.

Karuga shot 23 stable ford points in the first nine and another 20 in the back nine for the win.

"My excellent performance in the first nine gave me lots of motivation to push on onto the second nine with vigour, which off course was not as impressive as the first one but I gave it all to win the event," she told Standard Sports after picking the top prize from Britam Insurance Group Managing Director Tom Gitogo.

Impressed by the large turnout, Gitogo promised to come back to sponsor next year's competition.

Upon that confirmation, Karuga also confirmed that she would defend her title next year.

"Definitely be assured I'll come to show them (golfers) dust next year, God Willing!, just the same way by I have done today (Saturday)," she added.

Coming runners up was Mackton Wekhomba who shot a total of 42 stable ford points ahead of Brendan Ireland whom he beat by a count back.

With 41 stable ford points, Dennis Kibe emerged the men winner as Nyambura Muigai kept the women's title after amassing 38 stable ford points with Victor Chege going home with the junior's title at 37 stable ford points.

On the guest front, handicap 13 Simon Mbote at 36 stable ford points won the guest title as James Wambugu won the sponsor's title with 33 stable ford points.

Sammy Ndung'u who posted 35 stable ford points scooped the senior winner title with the nines going to Hussein Hassanali (first with 23 stableford points) and Patrick Ngaruiya (second with 24 stable ford points).

Luther Kamau was the men's longest drive winner as Frankie Gichuru scooped the women's title 

Zaheerabbas Fazal won the nearest to the pin title.