By CORRESPONDENT
Kenya Railways Golf Club’s Kenya Golf Union representative, Anthony Muhoro (75 nett), beat Dr. S.H.O Onyango on count-back to top the list of qualifiers at the inaugural Mumias Sugar Golf Series event at the club on Saturday.
Over 100 players, including Mumias Sugar staff and guests, turned up as the series teed off at this historical venue during which a total of 12 qualifiers were penned down for the series grand finale in November.
Muhoro and Onyango were the top pick in the handicap category of 0-5 while A Kimani (67 nett) and S. Karemu (70 nett) will represent 6-10 handicappers. Top junior Stephen Ndonga hit an impressive 64 nett to lead the 11-15 handicap band ahead of T.K. Mbogua (71 nett).
Other qualifiers included G. Ngacha (71 nett), who beat K. Wanjohi on count-back among 16-20 handicappers, S. Muhinja (70 nett) and J. Kimani (71 nett) for handicaps 21-25 and F. Okaro (73 nett) who beat M. Karienye on count-back for the final slot of players with handicaps 26-36.
Leading amateur lady golfer, Mary Karano of Vetlab, was the guest winner with 72 nett whereas H. Wafula (83 nett) won in the staff category.  The next event in the series takes place on March 31, 2012 in Karen Golf and Country Club.
Meanwhile, leading sugar manufacturer, Mumias Sugar Company, has received sanction from the Kenya Golf Union to sponsor a country-wide golf series for amateurs. The series teed off with Kenya Railways Golf Club event on Saturday.
Mumias Sugar Company Director of Corporate Affairs and Marketing,   Pamela Lutta, said qualifying tournaments will be held   in 14 venues across the country involving a total of 34 different golf clubs; with the grand finale being held later in the year in Nairobi.
“Every year since 2000 we have sponsored golf in 14 different clubs across Kenya but in 2012 we have decided to share the “Natural Sweetness” with more people by involving over 30 clubs in the new Mumias Sugar Golf Series,” said Lutta.
Winners in the qualifiers   will be selected from six handicap-based categories in line with the format agreed upon by the Kenya Golf union and the sponsors, Mumias Sugar to participate in the grand finals   in November.
Lutta said Mumias has been involved in golf sponsorships over the last 12 years in a bid to support and contribute to the growth of the game countrywide.
“We have been associated with the popular Tannerhill (Easter) Tournament in recent years and were one of the key sponsors of the Barclays Kenya Open in 2011,” said Lutta.
Mumias is also the sole sponsor of one of the country’s top professionals, Dismas Indiza, who hones his skills at Mumias Club.
“We are proud to be Dismas’s sponsor spending close to KShs2 million every year to facilitate his participation in various golf tours across Africa. We believe our support will go a long way in taking his career to the next level,” she said.
The stroke-play event will be played over 18 holes and is open to all Confederation of Golf Unions (CONGU)-handicapped players in the following handicap categories: 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-25 and 26-36.
The series will be held at Kenya Railways Golf Club, Karen Country Club, Thika Sports Club,  Limuru Country Club,  Sigona Golf Club,  Muthaiga Golf Club, Nyeri or Nanyuki Golf Club,  Nakuru Golf Club,  Kiambu Golf Club, Vipingo Ridge Resort or Nyali Golf Club, Vetlab Sports Club, Royal Nairobi Golf Club and Nyanza Golf Club on diverse dates culminating in the November 12, 2012 grand finale.
Various events will incorporate more than one golf club with today’s event bringing together Kenya Railways Golf Club with Machakos Golf Club. Karen Golf Club will host Golf Park while Thika Sports Club will welcome Ruiru. The event to be hosted  by either Nyeri or Nanyuki will feature Nyeri, Nanyuki, and Nyahururu clubs  while that in Nakuru will include the hosts,  Njoro, Naivasha, Great Rift Valley  Golf Resort(Green Park) and Gilgil.
Kiambu will welcome Windsor,  Ndumberi and  Kenya Airforce whereas the event to be hosted by either Nyali Golf and Country Club or Vipingo Ridge Resort will  incorporate Nyali, Leisure Lodge and Mombasa Golf Club (seafront). Mumias will host Kitale, Kakamega and Eldoret while the Nyanza Golf Club event will cover Kisii, Kericho and Nandi Bears.
The grand finale will be held on November 12, 2012 in Muthaiga, Nairobi during which all qualifiers will battle it out for grand prizes and top honours.
“We are very excited with this new partnership with KGU and are optimistic that the Mumias Sugar golf Series will contribute immensely to the development and growth of golf in Kenya,” said Lutta. michael kors tasche blau michael kors tasche blau

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