By JAMES WAINDI

A combined effort by Ochieng Abekah and Michael Kinuthia steered their team to victory at the third Dasani Golf Gala qualifier held at the par 71, nine-hole Vet Lab Golf Club on Saturday.

The winning team made of Abekah, Kinuthia, Sankale Olekantai and Martin Mkundi amassed a total of 102 points and in the process booked a ticket to the Gala’s grand finale slated for September 29 at the Karen Golf and Country Club.

Abekah playing off handicap seven posted 35 points, while Kinuthia playing off handicap 25 contributed 35 points and handicap 14 Olenkatai posted 32 points. Martin Mkundi playing off handicap 10 was the team’s weakest link on 28 points, but remained adamant noting that he played a relaxed game knowing that his members would guarantee qualification and vowed to show his true colours come the grand finale.

In his round, Abekah had a par on the par four second hole, but played a double bogey on the par four hole five, then recovered with three back-to-back pars on holes six, seven and eight, before sinking a birdie on the par four hole nine for a first nine score of 18. In the second nine, he had five pars to register a score of 17 points.

“Today I went to church as usual and maybe this is where the blessing came from. I found when my team members had already finished playing and they were cheering me at the final hole expecting me to play at least 30 points and I gave them 35 points instead,” said Abekah during the prize giving.

He added: “I promise to lead this team to victory during the grand finale and book a ticket to Dubai. I am going to make sure that each member of this group practice frequently before the finale.”

Kinuthia on the other hand had a false start in the opening nine where he had three double bogeys for a score of 15, but he recovered in the second nine where he picked 20 points.

The second best team in the competition was made up of John Kisolo, Njani Ndiritu, Francis Mwangi and Simon Mbugua, who posted a combined score of 97 points to book a ticket to the grand finale as well. Kisolo playing off handicap 18 scored the day’s best score of 36 points, while handicap nine Ndiritu posted 32 points and Mwangi playing off handicap nine had 29 points. Simon Mbugua playing off handicap 24 was the team’s weakest link on 29 points.

The reserve team which comprised of Amos Kale (34), Peter Sinkira (32), Japheth Njenga (30) and Nicholas Imbugwa (27) managed a team score of 96 points.

Royal Nairobi Club’s Avnish Bhandari playing off handicap three won the guest prize on 30 points, while Muthaiga’s handicap 27 Jay Mullick was the junior winner on 34 points and Elisha Ogonji had the nearest to the pin. Amon Kale had the men’s longest drive and Jane Kangethe won the women’s longest drive prize.

The grand prize for the 2012 Gala will see the eventual winning team of four players travel to Dubai to attend the Grand Finale of the European Tour-the DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.

“While in Dubai they will have the opportunity to see Europe’s best 60 money earners on the 2012 Order of Merit battle it out for a Ksh110.5 million (1.3 million dollars) winner’s cheque. In addition they will play at some of the best golf courses in the region, including the Dubai Creek Course and the Challenging Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club, a course designed by former world number one and six time Major Champion Sir Nick Faldo,” said Steven Maikweki, the Coca-Cola Assistant Brand Manager, Kenya, during the prize giving. air max blancas air max blancas

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