By DANIELLA APIYO

Prabhdeep Lochab , a junior home player emerged the winner of the sixth round of the 2014/2015 Kenya Airways Golf Safari vanquishing his game adversaries with zest and vigor.
Playing off handicap 20, the home golfer oozed confidence right from the initial stroke and savoured 41 stableford points victory on the emerald Eldoret Golf Club course.
A jubilant Lochab also bagged two return tickets to fly to any KQ destination of choice in Africa courtesy of the national carrier Kenya Airways.
In winning the sixth tour, Lochab also qualified for the Grand Finale that will be played at Windsor in March.
Also making slots for the Grand Finale from Eldoret were men’s winner Ken Serem and ladies winner Esther Chumo.
Ken Serem playing handicap 8 carded 37points whilst Chumo playing handicap 9 shot 35 stableford points.
lochab was all smiles after victory. “am very excited to have won this tournament. i thank my caddie and team players who encouraged me through out the game. The greens were in awesome condition and I was really happy with my hitting skills on the day,” said Lochab.
The men’s runners up trophy went to handicap 3 Joseph Watunu on a score of 37 points. Watanu also won himself a three wheel trolley.
Ali Babu shot 37 points to finish third . Jennifer Masis was the ladies’s’ runner up on a score of 32points.
Nearest to the pin honors went to Ravi Shah while Charles Nganga and Susan Kurgat ran away with the longest drive trophy for men and ladies respectively.
Eldoret tour attracted 110 golfers including guest players and club members.
KQ sales manager western Kenya, James Mwangi said golf tourism is a big industry globally with revenues estimated at more than US$ 2Million.
In Nigeria, Lanre B. Tanimowo was the star attraction during the 5th leg of the Kenya Airways Golf Safari tour which culminated at the par 71 Ikoyi Golf Club in Lagos over the weekend.
With a brilliant score of 68 nett, Lanre didn’t just savor clinching the men’s and overall winners’ titles but sounded a warning of sorts to his adversaries ahead of the Abuja tour scheduled for this coming weekend.
Nigeria is the only country on the 2014/2015 circuit hosting two events. All in all, Ikoyi Golf Club in Lagos was a beehive of activity hosting more than 160 golfers.
Asked what it really felt like to rack-up a scintillating double, Lanre attributed it to determination and a levelheaded approach. But he again cautioned his opponents in Nigeria that the win was only a tip of the iceberg. Lanre’s good-humored banter at prize giving caused quite a stir when he assured his adversaries in the Nairobi’s Grand Finale that they will surely meet their waterloo.

“For those who think I’m finished, I’m back in business and ready for the grand finale in Nairobi,” he quipped.
During strockplay tournament, Lanre sunk in two birdies on holes 13 and 16. He then parred holes 1, 2. 3. 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 18 but dropped shots in holes 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17.
In winning the Lagos tour of the Golf Safari, Lanre didn’t just savor a place in next year’s Grand Finale at Windsor, but becomes the first player in the prestigious event to win four air tickets!
The handicap 6 golfer chalked up two tickets to fly any KQ destination within Kenya for emerging the men’s winner and an additional two return tickets to traverse the African continent for clinching the overall winners’ title.
Also qualifying for the Grand Finale was handicap 33 lady winner Irene Ubah who posted 74nett.
The ladies runner-up was Angela Adegboyega.
Playing off handicap 17, Adegboyega carded 74nett.
Handicap 13 Meka Olowola shot 70nett to finish second overall in the men’s competition. Handicap 6 Geoffrey Oboh also carded 70nett but lost out on coutback to settle for men’s second runner up position.
Mathew Chadzimura emerged the men’s guest winner. The ladies guest winner’s title went to Candy Agu with a score 76nett and playing off handicap 17.
Longest drive honors for ladies on hole 18 went to Freely Mercy.
The longest drive men’s winner was Godfrey Oboh. The event was graced by KQ Commercial Director Gerald Clarke and Kenyan Ambassador to Nigeria Tom Amolo.
Clarke had this to say: “West Africa is one of our most key routes and to highlight this , we launched dierect flights to to yet another destination in the region this being Abuja. This is geared towards ensuring that we meet the rising demand on the routes we serve domestically, in Africa and across the world.”
Ambassador Amolo on his part lauded Kenya and Nigeria for maintaining close ties, “a true indication that sports tourism is a key foreign exchange earner.”
“Kenya and Nigeria have maintained close friendly ties and we are determined tosee that Africa is one the best places to live in the world,” said Amollo.
Kenya Airways’ Clarke added: “KQ initiated the KQ Golf Safari series in 2009.
“Golf tourism is a big industry globally with revenues estimated at more than US$ 2million. There is a huge opportunity in supporting the development of this sub-sector in Africa. This is one of the objectives of the 2014/2015 KQ Golf Safari,” said Clarke. nike air max thea schwarz nike air max thea schwarz

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