By DONALD WELLINGTON

On the second day of the Dasani Tannahill Shield golf tournament, the trend of surprises and changes on the leader board continued. After a good start in the second round and the weather being picture perfect, the script for the afternoon was different and the weather almost wrecked havoc on the finishing putts for the teams.

After the end of the third round Limuru emerged leaders with 33 points. Having tied for second place yesterday the team upped the stakes and took a four-point ahead of joint second teams from Muthaiga and Sigona.

Limuru Captain Anthony Wangari was full of praise for his team and emphasized that they were always sure of challenging for the top spot. He also added that every team from the club brought out their best game and scored well in the morning and afternoon rounds. He also paid tribute to their junior golfer, Dennis Maara playing off handicap 3 for a solid game and beating more experienced golfers from Railways club.

Last year Limuru club finished third and the captain feels like this could be their year.

Anthony Wangari was quipped saying “The team should not lose its focus and start celebrating. Other teams are breathing down our necks and just like we have led today, tomorrow it’s still open to anyone’s gain”. He also added that weather permitting the course has been great and the same should continue into the last day.

Anthony Wangari thanked Limuru Country Club for the support to ensuring the team practiced consistently and as a unit and ensuring the team’s continued participation at the Tannahill tournament. He also extended a special mention to Nairobi Royal Golf club for their invitation saying they don’t take this lightly by any means.

Second-placed Sigona Golf club captain, Gakuo Ndirangu said that slipping down to second place is not such a bad showing and said they still have a shot at the title tomorrow. Having not won the title in the last twenty-nine years, the last day’s action will have to count. He attributed the team’s good showing on the rookie team comprising of George Mwaura (handicap 3) and Kabir Choda who got maximum points 12 out of 12 possible ones.

The captain also attributed the team’s good showing to the teamwork, players switched to play for top honours. Sigona Club is also the defending champion for the Kenya Golf league. He also expressed optimism that the weather will not wreck havoc to their chances and the course doesn’t make it too difficult to replace Limuru at the top at the end of the fourth round tomorrow. Sigona club finished with 29 points a four-point difference between them and Limuru.

Joint-third Muthaiga made a huge comeback taking 15 points in the morning but running out of steam to finish with 5 points for the third round in the afternoon. Rajesh Bhabra the Team captain believed the team gave their best and the loss in the afternoon was to Sigona and Western clubs. He still believes it could either way tomorrow and hoped the team’s cohesiveness and gelling will see them retain the shield by the end of the fourth round.

Rajesh Bhabra said, “I still believe we’re in this tournament and remain the team to beat if we finish strongly and score good points tomorrow. I also the feel the course has been playing long and the greens have been slow but that is no excuse since it affects all teams as well”.  He hoped to give the team a good hand tomorrow once they retain the title. The team finished with 28 points.

Andrew Chelogoi the team manager from Western was also elated by his team’s performance being within 5 points off the leaders, Limuru. He credited the team’s performance to rigorous selection of the team while using GOTY rankings. He also thanked the junior golfers Abram Abdullahi and Joseph Watunu for a good game going to the final round tomorrow.

He added that, “the team has had challenges training as a unit due to the expansiveness of the selection and clubs participating but that has also seen a rigorous selection process meaning we brought the best players from that circuit”.

The western team is represented by 5 clubs from Kisumu, Eldoret, Nandi Bears, Kericho and Kitale. Andrew expressed optimism that the team will fight down to the last putt for top honours and shall not leave anything to chance tomorrow.

Tomorrow the Dasani Tannahill comes to a close with the fourth and final round teeing off at 7.30 a.m. and teams expected to finish before 1p.m. michael kors site officiel michael kors site officiel

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