S. Patel, a Ruiru Lady golfer tees off during a past event.

By DANIELLA APIYO

A field of 195 Golfers has been drawn for the inaugural Mount Kenya Leisure Lodge Golf Day at the Ruiru Sports Club on Saturday.

This is the first time that the renowned international tourist hotel based in Naro Moru, Nyeri, is hosting a golf tournament, a fete that has attracted golfers from across the country to the expansive Par 72 course.

Golf captain Peter Mwaura said: “It’s a big honour to host this tournament. With the course currently in excellent shape, we are expecting quite a competitive outing in the battle for the top prize.”

Home players who have recently been in good form including Chege Gacibu (handicap 27), Benson Kimani, (18), Lucy Kwendo (21), Ben Omondi (1), PN Mburu (15) and Antony Kamau (22) are expected to put up a strong defence, having won in tournaments the past three weeks.

“For us, we are keen to engage and interact with our customers and potential customers who have supported our business so far, as we grow tourism in the country. We see golf as a good avenue to achieve this” said Peter Mbichire, the proprietor of Mount Kenya Leisure Lodge.

Immediate former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero putts during the AHF Chairman’s competition at Muthaiga Golf Club on Saturday.

By AMANDA DAMARIS

Home lady player Nancy Ndungu produced an impressive score of 41 stableford points to claim the third edition of this year’s AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Chairman’s Golf Challenge at the Par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course at the weekend.

Playing off handicap 9, Nancy attributed her victory to consistent play and daily practice. She beat men’s winner Maurice K’Anjenjo on countback to rule the roost after shooting 20 points in the front nine and 21 in the back nine, while handicap 10 K’Ajenjo managed 23 and 18.

Sam Karau playing off handicap 25 was the men’s runners up with scores of 17 and 21 for a total of 38 points, while Rose Koome emerged the lady winner on a total of 37 points made of 15 in the front nine and 22 in the back nine.

The AHF Board member Patrick Gichira emerged the best staff player of the company with a score of 20 points made up of 10 points in each nine.

The nines prizes went to Philip Kangu and Michael Karanja Junior with 21 and 17 points respectively.

AHF chairman Stephen Karau playing off handicap 24 was the staff runners up with scores of 8 and 9 in both nines for a total of 17points.

Leading the ladies’ guests was Jane Ndirangu playing off handicap 26 who posted 38 points to win by three points from Annie Mutethia.

The men’s guest winner plating off handicap 16 with a total of 33 was Richard Githii.

Longest drive lady and male winners were Jane Ndirangu and Joseph Karanja, while Nearest to the pin best lady was Mary Maingi and Ndirangu Mwangi.

The AHF Kenya Chairman’s tourney seeks to leverage on sports to reach out to the high end Kenyans, captains of industry and senior government officials with a message of HIV/AIDS.

“After years at Kiambu we finally graced the home of golf and hope to visit several other courses countrywide. Standards have been set for the event and only the sky’s the limit,” said AHF Kenya chairman Karau

AHF deals with HIV prevention, treatment and advocacy. They conduct free HIV testing, provide free condoms and treatment to all Kenyans. They current operate in nine counties, Nairobi, Makueni, Mombasa, Kilifi, Homabay, Kisii, Kwale, Muranga and Turkana serving more than 51,000 Clients in the HIV care and treatment program.

During the tournament health wellness services including Blood sugar, Body Mass Index (BMI) as well as HIV Testing were offered at the club, Muthaiga Police station and Mathare area.