Katleen Kihanya (left) recieves her prize from Director for Marketing and Corporate Affairs Pamela Lutta.

By FIDEL ONO

Mumias Golf Club professional, Dismas Indiza, scored one over 72 to take the sole professionals’ cash prize as 10 amateurs booked their places in the November finals of the Natural Sweetness Golf Series.

With no players contesting for the two slots available for the handicap 1-5 category, club captain, Hezron Wafula, was the top scorer in the handicap 6-10 category with 74 nett ahead of Kakamega’s Logan Busolo who returned 75 nett.

Handicap 9 Wafula scored 34 nett  on the front nine before easing up to record 40 nett in the back nine. Busolo, playing off handicap 10, had a reverse experience, playing 41 nett in the front nine before recovering to pencil 34 nett heading into the clubhouse.

Mumias Club scooped both slots in the handicap category 11-15 with  Gregory Ombito, 75 nett and Jack Oyaro, 77 nett, going through. Kakamega took their turn to win both slots in the next category, 16-20, with Patrick Amakobe, 74 nett, and James Mundia, 75 nett, sailing through.

The two clubs would share the spoils in the 21-25 handicap category with homeboy, Ken Akhoko, playing of handicap 23 recording the best nett score of the day of 69, to lead Kakamega’s Clarence Misango, 80 nett, to the Limuru finals in November.  Mumias took the final two slots for the players with handicaps 26-36 with Jonathan Koome, 26, and  Manea Khaoya, 30,  both shooting 84 nett. Nandi Bears Club made away with the guest prizes with Wicky Kamanga and John Anyonyi scoring 71 nett and 72 nett, respectively.

So far, 140 amateurs have qualified for the grand finale scheduled for November 2, 2012 at Limuru Country Club with 12 qualifiers already concluded. Royal Nairobi Golf Club is next this Saturday followed by Nyanza Golf Club on October 13, to cap an exciting series that has involved over 30 clubs in 14 different venues.

“This has been a very competitive qualifier in spite of the fact that we missed players from Kitale and Eldoret,” commented Pamela lutta, Mumias Sugar Company’s Director for Marketing and Corporate Affairs.

“We are really looking forward to the grand finale which will offer the qualifying players exciting prizes and great hospitality. We really thank the clubs and the Kenya Golf Union for making the series so successful,” added Lutta.

The stroke-play 18-hole event   is open to all Confederation of Golf Unions (CONGU)-handicapped players in the following handicap categories: 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-25 and 26-36.  Two players qualify from each handicap category.

The series has already been to various clubs including Kenya Railways Golf Club, Karen Country Club, Thika Sports Club, Limuru Country Club, Sigona Golf Club, Muthaiga Golf Club,    Nakuru Golf Club, Kiambu Golf Club, Vetlab Sports Club,  Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort and will  culminate in a grand finale  at Limuru Country Club in November. nike air max homme pas cher nike air max homme pas cher

GET IN: Limuru’s lady captain Sandra Mundia gestures as she follows her tee shot during the final Dasani Golf Gala qualifier at the par 71 course on Saturday.

By FIDEL ONO

Home player James Karanja posted the best score of the day to beat a large field of 182 players and in the process anchored his team victory at the last Dasani Golf Gala qualifier held at the par 71 Limuru Golf and Country Club on Saturday.

Karanja playing off handicap +1 amassed 41 points, while handicap 16 David Waiganjo contributed 36 points, while handicap 20 Cyrus Kamau scored 34 points and Robin Njenga playing off handicap 31 was the team’s weakest link as the ended the day with a team score of 11 points. In the process they booked an automatic slot to the tournament’s Grand Finale slated for September 29 at the Karen Golf and Country Club.

Speaking on behalf of the winning team, Cyrus Kamau said he was honored by the win and said they were not going to rest on their laurels until they win the finale at Karen.

“The course was tough, but we managed to conquer it and we believe we can have a repeat performance in Karen in the next two weeks,” said Kamau.

The second team managed a combined score of 109 points and also booked a ticket to Karen. The team was anchored by handicap 18 Sammy Muita Gathuri on 38 points, while handicap 13 David Mwindi contributed 36 points and Grace Kimeria playing off handicap 13 amassed 35 points. Handicap 20 Kenneth Mwaura was the team’s weakest link on 30 pioints.

The reserve team which was a single point shy of the runners-up was made of Steve Maina (39), Victor Gichuri (36), Ben Mbai (33) and Kamau Ngengi (23). They posted a combined score of 108 points.

Kenya Open’s course director Patrick Obath playing off handicap 17 won the guest prize on 37 points, while handicap 25 Nganga Kariuki was the junior winner on 32 points and Simon Mwangi won the nearest to the pin prize.

The men’s longest drive prize went to James Kariuki, while Stella Gathigia won the ladies’ longest drive.

This was the last qualifier in the Gala’s 18-leg series which went through Kiambu, Thika, Vet Lab, Royal, Railways, Karen, Sigona, Muthaiga, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyanza, Kisii, Nyali, Leisure Lodge, Nyeri, Machakos and Windsor.

Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, Reagan Otieno, the Nairobi Bottlers’ Key Account Executive said the grand prize this year will see the winning team of four players travel to Dubai to attend the Grand Finale of the European Tour, the DP World Tour Championships at the Jumeirah Golf Estates. While in Dubai, they will also have the opportunity to see Europe’s top 60 money earners on the 2012 Order of Merit battle it out for a 1.3 million winner’s cheque.

“In addition, they will play at some of the best golf courses in the region, including the Dubai Creek Course and the challenging Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club, a course designed by former world number 1 and six-time major Champion Sir Nick Faldo,” said Maina. michael kors sac a dos michael kors sac a dos