By DANIELLA APIYO

Kenya’s Edwin Mudanyi is confident the team will win this year’s Victoria Cup golf tournament and make it three in a row as the high profile competition pitting hosts Kenya and neighbours Uganda tee off at the par 72 Vet Lab Golf Club on Thursday.

Mudanyi currently playing off scratch and a member of the nine-man Kenya national team, said the team is in good spirit and going by the low handicaps of the players, Uganda stood a slim chance of shocking the hosts.

“We have all that is needed to win the Victoria Cup for the third year in a row. Kenya won the first edition at Muthaiga Golf Club in 2016, then went ahead to win the second edition at Entebbe Golf Club last year and we are keen to continue with the trend this year,” said Mudanyi after a final practice session at the competition venue yesterday.

He added: “The course in a great shape at the moment, it’s a championship course. The fairway is a bit dry but good for play, the greens are fast, but we know how to navigate them, because we have been practicing on them for the last two weeks now.”

Mudanyi said the hosts has a slight advantage over the visitors, owing to the fact that they have a good knowledge of the course having practiced there in preparation of the event and that local fans support would be a morale boost for them.

Uganda who arrived in the country on Monday, have just had a feel of the course once before today’s action tee-off.

Multiple golfer of the year John Karichu of Limuru Country Club, who currently plays off handicap +1 will lead the team that consist of Mudanyi, South Africa based Daniel Nduva (+1), Vet Lab’s Mike Kisia (+2), Limuru’s Paul Muchangi (0), Royal’s Dennis Saikwa (0), def golfer Isaac Makhokha of Vet Lab (2) and junior golfers Agil Jamal of Nyali (1) and Muthaiga’s duo of Mutahi Kibugu (1) and Zubir Khan (3).

Uganda have a team of 10 players and will be captained by Becca Mwanja.

Action begin with four foursomes matches this morning, then four, four ball better ball matches in the afternoon.

On Saturday there will be subsidiary and singles.

Team Kenya:

Daniel Nduva (+1) (South Africa based)

Mike Kisia (+2) (Vet Lab)

Edwin Mudanyi (0) (Vet Lab)

Isaac Makhokha (2) (Vet Lab)

Dennis Saikwa (0) (Royal Nairobi Golf Club)

John Karichu (+1) (Limuru Club)

Paul Muchangi (0) (Limuru Club)

Agil Jamal (1) (Nyali Club)

Mutahi Kibugu (1) (Muthaiga Golf Club)

Zubir Khan (3) (Muthaiga Golf Club)

 

Uganda Players

1. Mwanja Becca – Captain

2. Muhumuza Adolf

3. Rugumayo Ronald

4. Mutebi Deco

5. Cwinyaai Joseph

6. Baguma Richard

7. Kamulindwa David

8. Gaita Rodel

9. Ainamani Abraham

10. Ochaya Martin

Officials 

11. Kasaija Stephen – Coach

12. Matsiko Moses – Manager

13. Kihika Innocent – UGU President

By DANIELLA APIYO

Twenty seven year old South African Michael Palmer is the winner of the 2018 KCB Karen Masters.

The Johannesburg based Bryanston Country Club pro fired an impressive last round of 5 under par 67 for a gross total of 18 under par 270. 

Whats more, Palmer savoured his first cut of the season on Friday after a second-round of six-under-par 66 in the second round. “I am very happy. It has been a tough first half of the year and the validation of the persistence is good. The win has motivated me to go for more glory on the Sunshine Tour ,” the winner said.

Palmer said he approach the weekend at the KCB Karen Masters a bit more aggressively than he did the first two rounds to realise his first win.

“I wouldn’t say I was so conservative over the first two rounds, but I definitely played more into the middle of the greens much more aggressively.”

Second overall was Merrick Bremner of South Africa with a gross total of -16 while Pieter Moolman and Tyrone Ryan also from South Africa finished joint third on -15.

Bremner was the day one and three leader and lost the coveted blue jacket to his compatriot Palmer by two shots.

Joint fifth on a score of -13 were Martin Rohwer (RSA) and Daniel van Tonder.

Jake Roos of South Africa who won the Kenyan Open in 2014/at the same.venue shot 12 under.par 276 (68, 70, 68, 70) to finish seventh.

Italian Philip Geerts finished joint eighth with South African Neil Schietekat on 10 under par 278.

Geerts was actually born in Nairobi to an Italian mother and Belgian father. He was born and grew up here in Africa lives in South Africa mainly for golf and has lived there for seven years.

The event played over 72 holes was sponsored by Kenya Commercial Bank.

KCB Marketing and Communication Director Angela Mwirigi highlighted the importance of the event in Kenyan sports circles by saying, “ The KCB Karen Masters remains our most visible vehicle to share the greatness of the sport. The tournament is on course to becoming the pre-eminent professional competition in East Africa

Top 10 final results:

1 Michael Palmer (RSA)-18 (70, 66, 67,67) 270

2 Merrick Bremner (RSA)-16 (65, 69, 68, 70) 272

3= Pieter Moolman (RSA)-15 (68, 68 67, 70) 273

3=Tyrone Ryan (RSA) -15 (68, 70, 65, 70) 273

5= Martin Rohwer (RSA)-13 70 68 69 68 275

5=Daniel van Tonder (RSA)-13 68 65 71 71 275

7. Jake Roos (RSA)-12 (68, 70, 68, 70) 276

8= Neil Schietekat (RSA)-10 (70 ,74, 63, 71) 278

8=Philip Geerts (ITA)-10 (68, 67, 70, 73) 278

10. JC Ritchie (RSA)/-10 (69, 66, 69, 74) 278