By FIDEL ONO

HOME player Joel Karubiu broke his duck on Saturday when he won his first ever major tournament in a four-year old golfing career after emerging the overall winner during the 11th leg of the ongoing Barclays Bank Golf Circuit held at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club.

Karubiu posted an impressive score of 20 stableford points in the front nine and 21 points in the back nine for a total of 41 points to rule the roost at the day long tournament which attracted a large field of about 200 players.

“I have been playing golf for the last four years but this is the first time I have won an event and it’s my maiden speech. Today I played well, I may say I did so because I was in the company of lady golfers and there was no way I could let them play better than me,” said Karubiu after the prize giving.

He will now lead five other qualifiers to the circuit’s grand finale slated for Karen Golf and Country Club on February 22.

Jonathan Chebukati beat Chris Isabwa on countback to settle for the runner-up position on

38 points (18, 20). Isabwa finished third also on 38 points (18, 20).

Veteran lady golfer Mary Cox was the lady winner on 34 points (16, 18), while Hellene Gatirimu was the lady runner-up on 33 points (16, 17).

Muthaiga’s John Robert McTough was the guest winner on 35 points (18, 17), while J. Muriungi was the guest runner-up on 32 points (14, 18).

Oki Amayo emerged the junior winner after amassing 33 points (18, 15), while the staff prize went to S. Kinuthia on 27 points (18, 9) and the team prize went to a team comprising of B. Orwako, D. Ombisi and I. Otieno after they realised a joint score of 34 points.

Nitin Mandaliya won the men straightest drive and the ladies straightest drive prize went to Beatrice Kamau. Timothy Kuria had the men nearest to the pin and Hellene Gatiramu had the ladires nearest to the pin.

Speaking during the prize giving, Barclays Head of Legal Affairs David Swao, lauded the players’ turnout at the event and despite the rains. He said Barclays has continued to draw top golfers across the country, providing an opportunity to learn from each other as it strives to enhance the golf standards in the region.

The overall winner during the grand finale will land a fully paid golfing tour on the expansive golf courses in South Africa, while the top 20 at the finale will get slots to play at next year’s Barclays Kenya Open Golf Pro Am.

“The pro-am is a dream for any amateur golfer where they get an opportunity to play with mainly top European professionals that grace the Barclays Kenya Open between March 6 and 9. Courtesy of Barclays hospitality, they will also get season tickets and VIP guest passes to the Barclays Hospitality tent at the Barclays Kenya Open,” Swao said.

The next leg of the competition will be held at Karen Golf and Country Club on January 10 where participarting clubs will be the home club and Railway.

Royal qualifiers: Joel Karubiu, Jonathan Chebukati, Chris Isabwa, Timothy Kuria, James Wanjohi, Baljit Sokhi; Reserve: John Odhiambo. nike air max junior nike air max junior

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