Bhavnish Chandaria (left) at a past tournament.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Former Muthaiga Golf Club captain Bhavnish Chandaria made good use of his home ground advantage to disappoint the form books and emerge the winner of the coveted Muthaiga Open title at the weekend.

Chandaria playing off handicap 0 scored 229 gross (76, 80, 73) to win the 54-hole competition which doubles up as a Golfer Of The Year (GOTY) tournament by a single shot.

National team captain Nelson Simwa playing off handicap +4 was the runner-up on 230 gross made up 73 gross, 81 and 76 gross over the three rounds and reigning golfer of the year Limuru’s John Karichu playing off -2 was third on 231 gross (82, 77, 72).

John Kariuki posted the best score in the first round managing 74 gross, while Kericho’s William Odera beat Royal’s Jay Sandhu on countback to claim the second round honours on 74 gross and John Gitonga had the best score during the third and final round on 75 gross.

D Irimu playing off handicap eight was the nett winner at the competition on 228 nett (78, 74, 76) and was followed in the second spot by handicap one Geoffrey Kubwa 229 nett (71, 81, 77) while M. Karanga playing off handicap seven with third on 230 nett (74, 81, 75). cheap air max 2017 cheap air max 2017

Nelson Simwa in action recently.

By DANIELLA APIYO

National golf team captain Nelson Simwa has declared his intentions of turning professional at the end of this year and he wants to do that in style, by winning the golfer of the year title.

He wants to start that campaign with a win at this year’s Muthaiga Open tournament that takes place at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club on Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament is the second leg of the Golfer Of The Year (Goty) series and will be a 54-hole medal competition, with the first 36 holes being played on Saturday and 18 holes being played on Sunday.

“I am ready for the event. My swing is good, I have been spending long hours on the range and on the putting green and I feel ready for the challenge,” said Simwa.

After finishing third during the season opening Sigona Bowl last month, the Vet Lab player who is also the national team captain is desperate to win this weekend’s event to boost his chances of winning the coveted Goty title as he plans to join the professional ranks by the end of the year.

“I played at Muthaiga three weeks ago when Vet Lab won the Nairobi District Foursomes and I don’t think the course has changed much. I will be going for nothing less than victory,” said Simwa who currently plays off handicap +4.

He is, however, expected to get stiff challenge from reigning champion champion Daniel Nduva, reigning Goty winner John Karichu, Sigona Bowl winner Justus Madoya and veteran Robinson Owiti among others. pandora charms sale pandora charms sale