Wanjiru defies Kenya Coast Cyclone Hidaya threat to win Sunset Golf Society title at Nyali

Home Club’s Overall winner Hellen Wanjiru during the Sunset Golfing Society golf tournament at Nyali Golf and Country Club Course in Mombasa County on Saturday. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Home Club’s Hellen Wanjiru defied the Kenya Coast Cyclone Hidaya threat to win this year’s Sunset Golf Society golf (SGS) tournament played at the par 71 Nyali golf and Country Club course in Mombasa County on Saturday.

The handicap 29 Wanjiru carded an excellent count back score of 42 stable ford points from a double 21 points in both nines to emerge the day’s overall winner beating a team of 211 golfers in the day long 18 holes tournament that brought together golfers from across the Country.

“I have not been on the podium for several months and yes, it’s my day of celebrations today. I won because the threats of the Cyclone Hidaya warning were not in my mind at all, though there were some unusual small strong winds, it was a lot of fun at the course with my four-ball team and I found myself just swinging to the holes,” said Wanjiru.

Royal Club’s Jack Okuku playing off handicap 17 was the Sunset Men’s winner on 41 points and his club mate colleague handicap 25 Walter Ong’ondo was the runners up after returning 39 points.

Rishi Dhodhia playing off handicap 26 emerged the Nyali Men winner on 40 points beating his club mate handicap 17 Jon Stokes to the runners up slot on a single point difference.

Nyali based lady golfer handicap 24 Proviah Odhiambo on 37 points walked home with the Sunset lady’s top title and handicap 19 Rosemary Obara with 32 points was the runners up.

Handicap 17 Teresia Oddo who lost the overall title on count back score of 42 points, however was consoled with the Nyali Lady winner’s top prize and handicap 14 Truphena Oyaro recorded 38 points to claim the runners up spot.

The Guest winner on a count back score of 37 points was Mombasa Golf Club’s lady golfer Grace Kwamboka playing off handicap 22 and her club mate handicap 20 Epapra Lagat emerged the runners up with 37 points.

Wesley Buben playing off handicap 31 brought 41 points to win the High handicapper prize while Feisal Lasker and Caroline Munyi were men and Lady winners of the longest drives categories as Hellen Wanjiru the overall winner yet bagged another prize of the Nearest to the pin.

Club Captain Dinesh Sasan flanked by his Chairman Kamami Njoroge said the SGS has always been closer to the heart of the Club and thanked them for allowing Nyali to host the tourney again.

SGS current Captain Felix Ochieng said the SGS members from across the Country enjoyed their day and praised Nyali for maintaining an excellent course and hosting an entertaining successful tournament.

“We have four main events this year, and so far, we have played two starting with Mombasa and it will culminate with the Grand festivals at Nyanza before the Christmas festivities. We have also partnered with Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) to ensure the sport is instilled to our Juniors and the programme is very successful,” said Ochieng.

While the SGS Vice Chairman Sylvester Odhiambo said SGS, a self-supporting group was started in 1986 with the aim of bringing golfers across the Country together to unite and share ideas.

“We have been also doing CSR programs in Education to support the young ones and already some of them are in universities, “said Odhiambo.