Kenya Rugby Sevens Player, Collins Injera, follows the flight of his tee shot at the Kiambu Golf Club leg of the NCBA Golf Series on Saturday, August 7, 2021.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Kiambu Golf Club’s Charles Karanja Mbugua was crowned the tenth winner of the ongoing 2021 NCBA Golf Series after he emerged winner of his Club’s leg of the Series over the weekend.

The handicap 24 player carded a round of 43 points to claim the top spot, on countback, ahead of Dr. Paul Kaumbutho (Handicap 12), who was crowned winner in the men’s category. Taking the runner-up position in the category was Martin Murigi (Handicap 18), who finished the day with a round of 42 points. 

In the ladies’ category, Lucy Gichimbiri (Handicap 23) took home the top honours, on countback, after ending the round with a 36-points haul ahead of Grace Kibe (Handicap 17), who secured the runner-up position. 

In the Nines, GW Kuria and Stanley Mbugua claimed bragging rights in the first and second nine, respectively, as NCBA’s Richie Subayeni emerged staff winner with 40 points. 

In other events, Moses Mburu took home the Longest Drive trophy in the men’s category while Susan Kanyora claimed it for the ladies. In the junior golfers’ category, handicap 37 Alpha Ndung’u won 37 points after the round. 

The Kiambu Golf Club leg of the Series was the tenth in the 21-event calendar, marking the tournament’s halfway point. It attracted a field of 176 golfers. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, James Mugo, Chief Operating Officer, Digital Business, NCBA Group Digital Business, said the Series had received positive reception, with over 1,500 golfers taking part in the event so far.

“This has been a great competitive weekend. Since we began in January, we have seen great progression of strength to strength, and we are looking forward to the remaining events as we take the momentum of the event over to those other clubs,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Philip Ondieki, Club Captain, Kiambu Golf Club appreciated NCBA for partnering with the club to host the tournament, saying it demonstrates a steadfast commitment to the growth and development of the sport, as many sponsors withdraw from similar engagements owing to restraints occasioned by COVID-19.

“We are pleased that NCBA has sponsored this weekend’s tournament. It has been a difficult year with the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to most sponsors withdrawing from sponsorship engagements. We, therefore, don’t take it for granted to have NCBA here and make the day a success,” he said.

So far, the tournament has now been played at 10 golf clubs countrywide – Thika, Vetlab, Kitale, Sigona, Mombasa, Nyali, Nyeri, Nanyuki, Karen, and Kiambu, with respective winners converging at the Series finale, which will be held at the Karen Country Club in December this year. 

The Series now moves to the Nakuru Golf Club next weekend for the eleventh event in the calendar.

Leo Zurovac of Vet Lab Golf Club receives the winner’s trophy from Crown Paint’s Marketing Executive Janet Githinji at Muthainga Golf Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Vet Lab Sports Club’s Leo Zurovac today completed an impressive fiver over par 289 gross at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course, to clinch the overall title 2021 Crown Paints sponsored Kenya Junior Stroke Play golf championship.

During the final round, the handicap two Zurovac shot three over par, in a round that included 14 pars and one birdie, having earlier shot 74, 66, and 75 for his 72-hole grand total.

The 17 year- old Zurovac currently attending the Jason Floyd Academy in Spain and who also recently won the Croatian National Championship with some impressive scores of 75, 73, 67 and 69 for four under par total, said he enjoyed playing on the beautiful Muthaiga course which he said was in great condition at the moment.

Ï want to thank Muthaiga golf club for keeping the course in good shape. I am also grateful to play with some excellent players who kept on encouraging me, but more or would like to appreciate the sponsors Crown Paints for sponsoring the tournament which is very important for us juniors, and finally would like to thank my parents for their great support’’ said Zurovac who said would like to play more events before going back to school.

Emerging the overall winner in the Girls section was Belinda Wanjiru who also shot an impressive total of 355 gross made up of 89, 87, 89 and 90. “I am happy with my scores except for the final round which denied a better aggregate, but I will keep on practising for a better score next time’’ said Wanjiru. The overall nett title went to Shiro Murray with rounds of 67, 68, 73, and 71 for nett 279.

Wanjiru Murray of Great Rift Naivasha with her trophy at Muthaiga Golf Club today.

Winning the 19 to 21 category was another Vet Lab player Chrispine Owuor on 310 gross, winning ahead of Thika Sports Club’s Dennis Gakuo oin324 and third placed Derrick Gitau who carded 344 gross. South Africa based Andrew Wahome, a member of Nyali Golf and Country Club here at home, fired 309 gross to win the 15 to 18- year division ahead of Lee Kimathi of Windsor on 320. Shakkur Adams was third on 323.

In the 12 to 14 division, Jelani Kihanya produced 349 groiss to win ahead of home player Junaid Manji carded 354 to take home the runner up prize with Ishan Samani finishing third on 356 gross. And finally in the 10 to 11- year division, Royal Nairobi Mwathi Gicheru who has been enjoying a great form lately, shot gross 370 to win ahead of Shashwat Harish on386 and third placed Mitansh Thacker who posted 400 gross.

Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, Linnet Kendi, a Business Development Executive at Crown Paints said the company was happy to have been approached to sponsor the junior golf tournament. Speaking on behalf of Crown Paints CEO Rakesh Rao currently out of the country, Kendi said Crown Paints has been involved in the sponsorship of tournament for eight years now.

“Crown Paints will continue supporting junior golf because we believe this is the best way to nurture talent and eventually at the long run be able to produce good players who can represent Kenya in the Kenya Open and other international events. Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) vice president Nancy Ikinu thanked Muthaiga Golf Club for giving the juniors the course to play for three days, and the trustees who made up the competition committee who doing an excellent of putting together the event which attracted 56 players.