Mombasa's Koech sings "Halleluiah" after registering major maiden victory

Paul Koech, winner of the Tea Golf Day makes a swing to the second greens during the tourney at the Sea-Link Mombasa Golf Club in Mombasa County on Saturday. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Mombasa Marine expert Paul Koech has been used to seeing colleagues at the podium claiming prizes and wondered when his day and time will ever come.

But he sang “Halleluiah” when the day finally turned out after being crowned the overall winner off the Tea Golf Tournament played at the par 71 Sea-Link Mombasa Golf Course in Mombasa County on Saturday.

It was not an easy win and Koech playing off handicap 19 didn’t find easy, for he survived narrowly on a two-way count back score of 39 stable ford points to beat a team of 150 golfers in the day long 18 holes tournament to register his major maiden victory after playing golf for the last three years.

The home Club’s golfer who is ever silent and loves doing things behind the scenes had a good day playing against strong winds to sink a single rare birdie at the par three-sixteenth hole with additional levelling of four pars and a mixed pot of bogey shots in both nines to carry the lead.

“I must say it was my day and I am really elated with my golf performance today and appearing on the Leaderboard as the overall winner. It is my first ever win registered in such a major tournament in the short period of golfing, just imagine the feeling.

“But I attribute this to sponsorship by my favorite Tea drink brand. Many thanks go to my four ball partners Peter Wambari, Carol Munyi and Timothy Mbugua, though he finished after the first nine, without giving explanation.

“I must say, today’s course was playing well and thanks to the Hon. Green Keeper Fidel Odumo and the Green Keeping team.

“I got to the greens on regulation but on the first nine my putting was not that good and three putts on three holes 2,3 and 9, scratching on hole No. 7. Being followed by a four ball on match play during second nine accorded me ample time to follow through my golf shorts and more specific putting in avoiding three putting which I registered during first nine,”said Koech.

Koech had tied with handicap 23 Wilfred Achila who was the Man winner and runners up placed handicap 27 Salim Taib while John Kinuthia playing off handicap 6 settled for the third slot on 37 points.

Monica Kamundi, lady runne up of the Tea Golf Day, follows her shot to the second greens at the Sea-Link Mombasa Golf Course in Mombasa County on Saturday. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

The tournament that attracted golfers from the home Club, Nyali, Diamond Leisure, Vipingo Baobab, Malindi Golf Clubs with Guests and Members of the Tea from the Tea Industry with valid handicaps was jointly supported by Stanbic, Bags & Balers Manufacturers, KTW Shipping & Logistics, C. Steinweg Group, MIC Global Risks, DHL, and Tea Brokers.

Jackline Mutahi playing off handicap 35 was the Lady winner 36 points while handicap 35 Monica Kamundi on a count back score of 31 points was the runners up tying on the same score with third placed handicap 27 Susan Mwangi.

The Gross prize was scooped by handicap 0 Henry Kamau on a four over par 75 gross and handicap 30 Peter Cheruiyot brought 40 points to win the high handicapper’s prize.

The Club’s former Captain Symon Wambugu playing off handicap 21 carded 36 points to emerge the best sponsor while handicap 16 Elvis Nduati on 32 points and handicap 19 James Gitonga with 31 points were the runners up and third placed respectively.

Wesley Bosuben was the best from the Tea Industry category with 38 points and Michael Fernandes emerged the ‘Piga Mingi’ winner on 8 points.

The Club’s Chairman Paul Munyao noted that the Club had many members who are in the Tea Industry and praised the Tea team for bringing the tournament to the Club for the time that is now to be an annual event.

“I congratulate the winners and look forward to stronger partnership and to make the event much more great and stronger,” said Munyao.

Elsewhere at the Limuru Country on the same day, handicap 18 Anne Wanjama braved the current cold weather to show dust to colleagues after carding an excellent 43 points to emerge the overall winner of the Crown Paints tourney as handicap 3 Joseph Kanyi was the Gross winner on 75 gross.

The Division A men winner was handicap7 Samuel Ngaruiya on 37 points, while handicap 17 Moses Karanu on 41 points and handicap 33 Kevin Githunguri with 41 points were the division B and C winners respectively.

Wairimu Thande playing off handicap 18 took command of the Ladies winning the Division A category on 35 points as handicap 34 Wanjiku Migiwi brought 42 points to the B division and taking the C division lead on 32 points was handicap 39 Karen Karani.

The Junior prize was won by handicap 26 Hakeem Mutungi on 36 points while handicap 26 S. Bhandari with 35 points was the senior winner and handicap 30 Lilian Migoye went home with the Guest prize after recording 39 points.

OTHER SELECTED RESULTS;

RUIRU SPORTS CLUB;

July 2024 Monthly Mug;

Overall winner-Dr.J. Karienye (17)-71nett, Men winner-Suleiman Kamau, hcp 19, 71nett, Men runners up-Jacob Kambo (20)-71nett,

Lady winner-Jane Kanari (27)-73nett, Lady runners up-Ruth G Kamau (14)-73nett, Guest winner-Samuel Muchemi (15)-68nett,

Junior winner-Lucy Wangari (27)-74nett, Gross winner-B. Omondi (2)-78gross, Division 2-winner-S.K. Nyingi (31)-69nett. 

VETLAB SPORTS CLUB;

Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) Golf Day;

Overall winner-Paul Kanyeki (20)-41points, Men winner-Eric Wakarima (19)-40points, Runner up-Simon Mwatha (24)-40points,

Lady winner-Kozue Okumu (35)-40points, Runner up-Rose Mwarania (28)-39points, Best KVA-Ezra Arigo (26)-39points,

Guest winner-Michael Mwiti (30)-39points, Junior winner-Parv Kavia (9)-34points, Senior winner-Leonard Munyua (41)-37points,

Special category winner-Stella Orenge (50)-41points.