Dismas Indiza follows his tee shot during the first KCB Golf Tour leg at Royal Club in February.

By FIDEL ONO

Dsimas Indiza carried his form from the last tournament at Royal Club two months ago to take an early lead at the KCB Advantage Banking golf event at the par 70 Nyanza Golf Club yesterday.

The Mumias resident professional played six under par 64 to carry a four shot lead into today’s second round.

He started on a wrong note with a bogey on the par five first hole, then picked three back-to-back birdies on the par five fifth hole, par four hole six and par three hole seven, before dropping another shot on the par four hole nine for a first nine score of 34.

In the second nine, the hard hitting golfer started with a birdie on the par five 10^th, before picking four back-to-back birdies on the par three 13^th, par five 14^th , par four 15^th and par three 16^th for a score of 30.

“The rough was tough today and I expect the same conditions in the remaining rounds. The first nine was very tough for me today, in the ninth hole I played a bogey after my ball went to the rough and coming out was crazy, I hope to play better in the remaining rounds,” said Indiza.

Home player David Odhiambo who was crowned this year’s JTL Masters winner in February, tied in the second spot with Thika’s Simon Ngige on two under par 68.

“Today I had two bogeys. I missed too many putts, I could have played six under like Indiza or even better. I am going to work on my putting and hope to maintain a consistent score of four under in the remaining rounds to win the event,” said Odhiambo.

Nakuru’s Richard Ainley was fourth on one under par 69, while Windsor’s Riz Charania who is also the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Chairman finished fifth on level par 70.

PGK captain Peter Njagi said today’s tee off was at 10am and noted that there will be a cut after today’s round, with only the top 15 players making it to the final rounds.

LEADER BOARD

1. Dismas Indiza         64
2. David Odhiambo   68

Simon Ngige           68

4. Richard Ainley        69

5. Riz Charania            70

6.Nicholas Rokoine    71

Anil Shah                  71

Boniface Simwa      71

Brian Njoroge          71

David Opati         71 doudounecg doudounecg

The CEO of Pan Africa Life Insurance Tom Gitogo follows his tee shot at the Nanyuki Club. He won the staff prize.

By CORRESPONDENT

Mark Kirimi was the winner of the Pan Africa Life Golf Challenge first leg at the par 72 Nanyuki sports Club in Nanyuki, playing in rainy conditions on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. Kirimi, a handicap-28 golfer opened his round with a scratch on the par four – 1st and 2^nd holes but improved on the short par -3 third hole to make par. The champion dropped shots from the 4th to the 9th to finish with 19 stable ford points on the first nine.

On the back nine, he recovered on the 10^th hole and made par ;  dropped shots on the 11^th to 12^th; was quickly followed by par on the 13^th hole. Kirimi was however unable to make par on the closing stretch, dropping  shots from the 14th to the 18th to finish with 20 stable ford points and a total of 39 points. Commenting after his round, Kirimi said the golf course was playing tough. “The rains in Nanyuki have made the course very lush and as a result it is playing long; the rough is also unforgiving and the greens slightly slower than normal due to the weather,” Kirimi said. “I played conservatively, kept the ball out of trouble and I am glad to be crowned the first champion of the Pan Africa Life Golf Challenge.”

Erastus Wanjohi, a solid handicap-15 golfer finished second with 38 points. Gabriel M. Miungi finished third with 37 points. The handicap-14 golfer secured 18 points on the front nine and 19 points on the back nine.

Lady golfer Ann McConnell was the lady winner. Ann, a handicap-19 golfer scored 17 points on the opening nine but was unable to repeat the feat on the closing nine, finishing with 15 points to beat Hellen Kurutu on count back. Her total of 32points was however sufficient for the lady winner’s crown.

Tom Gitogo, Pan Africa Life CEO was the Staff winner with 37 points. Speaking at the prize giving ceremony, Gitogo congratulated the Nanyuki Club for putting together a great event. “On behalf of Pan Africa Life, I would like to thank Nanyuki Club for making this first event of the Pan Africa Life Golf memorable. To the winners, congratulations and well done.” The golfers were drawn from—Nyahururu, Nyeri and host Nanyuki.

This was the first of the six series launched last week in Nairobi that will be played around the country. From Nanyuki, the Challenge will move to Eldoret Golf Club on the 11^th of May, Nakuru Golf Club will host the PAN AFRICA LIFE GOLF CHALLENGE on 8^th of June and East to the Nyali Golf and Country Club on the 13^th of July 2013.The grand finale will be held  in September  at the Muthaiga Golf Club.

The overall winner of the PAN AFRICA LIFE GOLF CHALLANGE will win an all expenses paid trip to participate in the 2013 SANLAM CANCER CHALLENGE that will be held at the Sun City Golf Resort from the 21^st to 22nd of October 2013. golden goose golden goose