Hilda Mugure never lost focus at Nyali meet

Overall winner Hilda Mugure follows her swing shot to the second greens at the Nyali golf and country club course in Mombasa county on Saturday during the club’s lady Captain’s (Provia Odhiambo) prize tournament. [Maarufu Mohamed,Standard].

Home club’s lady golfer Hilda Mugure is over the moon after claiming a top spot in the ladies season opener at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club, in Mombasa on Saturday.

The handicap 19 Mugure recorded a sterling 18 differential points to be declared the day’s overall winner in the club’s Lady Captain’s (Provia Odhiambo) prize  golf tournament.

Her victory came after playing 35 nett in the front nine and 17 points at the back nine to bring home the leading differential points in the day-long tournament.

“I thank God for giving me the new opportunity and I am humbled to be the overall winner of this prestigious lady’s tournament. This is an indication that this season will be a different one,” said Mugure.

The club’s former lady captain and senior veteran Lady golfer handicap 20 Florence Karimi was the winner of the Best Lady captain prize on a score of 19 differential points after playing 36 nett and 17 points in both nines. One of the club’s director Mary Kandu, playing off handicap 9, was the gross winner with 85 gross.

There was tight competition for the lady runner-up slot with three players recording the same score, but handicap 36 Daxaben Vekaria survived to claim the prize on a two-way countback score of 19 differential points from 37 nett and 18 points in both nines.

She had tied with third-placed handicap 20 Florence Karimi, who had earlier won another prize, while handicap 32 Diana Nthiwa finished fourth.

Mombasa golf club’s handicap 34 Constance Achila was the lady guest winner on 23 differential points and her club mate handicap 21 Wanjiku Wanjiri recorded 25 differential points to claim the runner-up slot.

School girl handicap 50 Nikki Pattni from the home club was the Best Lady junior with 20 differential points after playing 37 nett and 17 points in the first and second nines respectively.

Royal Nairobi’s handicap 43 Natasha Mukundi recorded 15 differential points on 35 nett and 20 points from both nines to emerge the high handicapper winner. 

The tournament that saw men golfers play as subsidiary and all teeing off from the lady’s’ tee boxes saw a south African based Kenyan, youthful golfer Andrew Wahome playing off minus 2 handicap emerge the best gross winner carding a one under par 70 gross.

Senior golfer handicap 19 Major General (retired) Anthony Rob was the subsidiary winner after recording a count back of 71 points, tying on the same score with second placed handicap 11 Sanjay Kotecha while handicap 10 Niran Hirani with 40 points was third.

The senior winner on 37 points was handicap 22 Murtaza Saeed while handicap 19 Erskine Nyongesa with 40 points and handicap 31 Brijesh Pattni on 35 points were the junior and high handicapper winners respectively.

The event was also graced by the Club Captain Dinesh Sasan and his Chairman Kamami Njoroge among others  who praised the large turnout of the players and supporters to make day successful as planned.

Club Secretary Zaituni Mohamed represented the Lady Captain Provia Odhiambo said to be out of the country on official duties.

In the speech read by Mohamed, Ochiambo who was following the day’s event through the social media noted the celebration of the success of the incredible event and expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Ladies of Nyali Golf for their unwavering support throughout her transition into lady captainship.

“Your encouragement and belief in me have been my greatest source of strength. To the Ladies Committee, I cannot thank you enough. You have been a pillar of support, offering guidance and wisdom that has made this journey not only manageable but truly fulfilling. To the senior ladies of Nyali Golf, as I reflect on this journey, I am humbled to know that I have stood on the shoulders of giants of women who have paved the way and inspired excellence in leadership, “said Odhiambo.

She praised the planning committee made up of Mary Kandu, Zaituni Mohammed and Hilda Mugure for making this possible within a very short notice and truly worked overtime to see this a success that would not have been possible without your immeasurable support.

She expressed optimistic about the future of the club’s ladies' section saying that together, they have built a team that is resilient, ready to face even the strongest winds that may come their way and confident that they will continue to grow stronger and more united.

“A special thank you to the Board led by the Chairman for standing by me, even during moments of crisis. Your faith in my leadership and unwavering support have been instrumental in navigating challenges and ensuring we stayed on course. To the Captain Dinesh Sasan, thank you for giving solutions in moments of crisis. To our sponsors, thank you for believing in us and for agreeing to support this tournament, even at short notice. Your trust and generosity have been vital in making this event the success it has been. Looking back, I am filled with pride to say that we have weathered heavy winds, safely docked the ship, and left it ready to set sail for greater seas and confident that it is now in safe and stable hands, poised for an even brighter future,” Odhiambo pointed out.

FULL RESULTS;

Lady Captain's Prize (Provia Odhiambo)-Nyali;

Overall winner-Hilda Mugure (19)-18 diff points.

Best Lady Captain-Florence Karimi (20)-19 diff points.

Gross winner-Mary Kandu (9)-85gross.

Lady runner-up-Daxaben Vekaria (36)-19 diff points C/B.

Third-Florence Karimi (20)-19 diff points C/B.

Fourth-Diana Nthiwa (32)-19 diff points.

Lady guest winner-Constance Achilla (34)-23 diff points.

Runners up-Wanjiku Kinyeru (21)-25 diff points.

Best lady Junior-Nikki Pattni (50)-20 diff points.

High handicapper winner-Natasha Mukundi (43)-15 diff points.

Subsidiary gross winner-Andrew Wahome (-2)-70 gross.

Subsidiary winner-Maj.Gen.A. Rob (19)-41 points C/B.

Runners up-Sanjay Kotecha (11)-41points.

Third-Niran Hirani (10)-40 points.

Senior winner-Murtaza Saeed (22)-37 points.

Junior winner-Erskine Nyongesa (19)-40 points.

High handicapper winner-Brijesh Pattni (31)-35 points.