OWITI RECALLED TO NATIONAL GOLF TEAM
ABUNDANT EXPERIENCE: Robinson Owiti follows his tee shot during last years Karen Challenge event.
By JAMES WAINDI
This year’s Windsor Classic and Trans Nzoia Open champion Robinson Owiti has finally earned a call-up to the national golf team set to represent the county at next month’s East Africa Golf Challenge and Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship (AAGTC).
The Vet Lab player protested the manner in which Kenya Golf Union (KGU) selected the national for the Africa Zone VI champions in Namibia in April where he was overlooked despite the fact that he was third in the Golf Of The Year (GOTY) standings at that time.
Owiti is still third on the log at the moment and his return to the team is likely to bring experience and balance ahead of the two crucial tournaments.
He was part of a 13-man team released by KGU yesterday. The team which is expected to start training on Monday also include five top junior players from different clubs.
The team’s first assignment will be the continental event slated for Royal Swazi Spa Country Club in Swaziland between October 18 and 24, then a week later they will be defending their regional title at the Great Rift Valley Lodge between October 28 and November 1.
While releasing the names the KGU chairman Frank Okwara said the AAGTC will be comprised of three senior members from GOTY standings while one will be a junior from the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) Order of Merit.
For the East Africa Challenge event Okwara noted that the team will comprise of five senior players from the GOTY standings and four juniors from JGF Order of Merit. He said that the selected squad was made up of strong players and exuded confidence that the ultimate team was capable of raising the national flag high in both the events.
The AAGTC event remains one of the most prestigious golf competitions in Africa. It is held bi-annually and is played using the Eisenhower format and is a 72 hole stroke play played over three days. Each country is represented by a team of four players. The team score is obtained by adding the best three of the four gross scores. The trophy is awarded to the team with the lowest aggregate score. The last event was held in South Africa and Kenya will be hosting the next event in 2015.
The East Africa Golf Challenge is, however, a golf tournament involving members of East Africa Golf Federation. It was first played in 1999 in Kenya and last year it was played ion Burundi and Kenya won the event. The format involves 4 rounds of golf with singles, foursomes, four ball better ball and final singles. Each country has eight players and a reserve.
TEAM:
1. John Karichu-Limuru
2. Tony Omuli- Golf Park
3. Robinson Owiti- Vet Lab
4. Justas Madoya- GRV
5. Elijah Odera Amukowa- Kericho
6. Alfred Nandwa- Railway
7. Nelson Simwa- Vet Lab
8. Steve Karanja- Kiambu
9. Daniel Nduva(Junior)- Nyali
10. Tahir Mohamed(Junior)- Nyali
11. Mathew Wahome(Junior)- Nyali
12. Adel Balala (Junior)- Nyali
13. Kush Mediratta(Junior)- Sigona
Courtesy of The People Daily nike air max cheap uk mens nike air max cheap uk mens