AKINYI REIGNS SUPREME AT KTB GOLF NYANZA LEG
Kisumu County Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga prepares to tee off during the fourth leg of the KTB Golf Series at Nyanza Club at the weekend.
By DANIELLA APIYO
Elizabeth Akinyi may have started playing golf in less than a year, but proved her mettle to beat seasoned golfers and emerge the overall winner of the fourth leg of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) ‘Tembea Kenya’ Golf Series at the nine-hole Nyanza Golf Club.
Akinyi playing off handicap 36 posted a total of 42 points made up of identical scores of 21 points in the front and back nine.
Handicap 17 Ramesh Karia emerged the winner in the day long event on 41 stableford points (21,20), while Balminder Sokhi playing off handicap 12 settled for the men runner-up position of 40 points (20, 20) and handicap 17 Samuel Onyango was third on 39 points.
Damaris Kemto playing off handicap 30 won the ladies prize on 34 points and was followed in the runner position by handicap 26 Ruth Kwasu.
Luther Owuor won the first nine prize on 22 points, while Richard Atemba won the second nine prize on 20 points.
Muriuki Murithi playing off handicap 28 emerged the staff winner on 30 points and E. Masiga won the nearest to the pin prize.
Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, Wausi Walya, the KTB Public Relations and Communications Manger lauded the good turnout and said KTB and together with its partners in the tourism industry have in the recent past put enhanced focus on the marketing of the golf product to both domestic and international tourists.
“It is for this reason that we have this year launched the Tembea Kenya golf series that will see KTB sponsor golf events at clubs across the country. So far we have visited Limuru, Nyali, Nakuru and now Nyanza,” said Walya.
He added: “ Kenya is famed worldwide for its sports prowess in the areas of athletics, rugby, just to mention but a few and it is with this spirit that KTB has taken up the promotion of sports tourism a notch higher. Kenya has 40 golf courses across the country located in very diverse areas of the country, a few of of them have even hosted international tournaments.”
From Nyanza, the ‘Tembea Kenya’ golf action now moves to Sigona Golf Club on December 6.