Edward Keter and Bill Kalya with KGU Executive Ndiga Kithae.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Bill Kalya and Edward Keter of Kericho Golf Club played a combined score of 47 stableford points to emerge the overall champions of the International Pairs qualifying event held at Muthaiga Golf Club at the weekend. Kalya playing off handicap 10 and Keter handicap 19 showed a concerted effort as they both made equal contributions to the overall team score.  Kalya capitalized on the Par 3s getting at least 2 points in 4 out of the 5 holes and an eagle on par 5 no. 7 secured 4 points for the duo. Keter on the other hand came to the rescue on the longer holes and maximized on the 19 handicap strokes getting the much needed 3 points in 3 holes and 4 points in the par 4 no. 8.

The home-players, Josiah Mwaniki and Patrick Mbagaya finished as runner ups with 44 points after beating Erick Mutai & Julius Rono, Fredrick Wagura & Rebecca Njui and James Kamenchu & George Mburu on countback. Mutai and Rono are seeking another ticket to Portugal having being part of the 4 pairs that travelled to La Cala Hotel & Golf Resort, Spain on 14-18 November 2022 for the 2022 World Finals. This year’s finals will be held at the Royal Obidos Spa & Golf Resort and Bom Sucesso Resort, Portugal between 6^th-10^th November 2023.

The Kenya Golf Union Executive, Ndiga Kithae, speaking on behalf of the KGU Chairman-Philip Ochola, appreciated Muthaiga Golf Club for hosting the tournament and informed the members of the value gained in the participating in the series. “Portugal has more than 30 golf estates and this opportunity presents a chance to our players to experience and learn from the country.” Ndiga further urged the members preset to introduce friends and juniors to golf and to continue supporting the initiatives of the union.

The 5 pairs all got tickets to the Kenya Grand Finale to be held on 1^st September 2023. The top 3 pairs in the Grand Finale qualify for the fully funded golf trip to Portugal.  The event at Muthaiga is the first of 7 club qualifying events that will be held in different regions of the country. The second event will be held on 15^th July 2023 at Nyahururu Sports Club followed by 22^nd July 2023 at Kericho Golf Club. Mixed pairs are allowed in the competition where the best stableford points calculated off 85% handicap allowance are picked for the team per hole and summed up to arrive at the team score. All golfers who are 18 years and above and have a valid WHS handicap index are eligible to play.

Kenya has participated in the International Pairs in the years 2019, 2021 and 2022 with a break in 2020 due to the Corona Pandemic. Since the start of the series in 2019, 7 pairs have participated in the fully paid trip to the World Grand Finale. Mike Karanga & Steve Kiaro, James Kamenchu & Anthony Murage and Bhamra Bilu & Romy Sandhu participated in the finals in 2019 at Penina Golf Resort, Portugal. In 2022, Saawan Shah & Jay Varia, Chand Shah & Kush Shah, Julius Rono & Eric Mutai and Steve Kiaro & David Gitao participated in the finals at La Cala Golf Resort, Spain. The pair of Chand Shah & Kush Shah finished as runner ups in the World Finals just one point from the winners from Namibia-Johannes Damon and Hylton Villet.

The winning team poses for a photo with the Managing Director KCB Investment Bank Linus Kang’ara during the 7 th leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour played at the Thika Sports Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

A fourball of Samuel Njunu, Linda Kinyua, Julius Wanyaga, and Susan Irungu displayed unparalleled golfing prowess to return a combined score of 139 points to emerge the winners of the KCB East Africa Golf Tournament played at the par 72 Thika Sports Club on Saturday.

Not far behind, a formidable team of Patrick Gakuo, Anthony Kabucho, Sam Njenga, and Dr. Edwin Mburu secured an impressive second-place finish with a cumulative of 125 points qualifying for the grand finale to be played at Karen Sports Club in November 2023.

Speaking after receiving the winner’s award, Samuel Njunu said, “We are happy to have emerged winners of this leg. We navigated the challenging course with exceptional precision and remarkable finesse, securing a well-deserved victory. The team’s unwavering commitment, tireless dedication, and impressive teamwork were instrumental in securing this championship. We look forward to an entertaining grand finale in Karen.”

The tournament attracted 294 golfers drawn from different parts of the country, of which the top two leading teams get a chance to take part in the KCB East Africa Grand Finale to be played at the Karen Sports Club in November 2023.

Thomas Thal of Thika Sports Club emerged as the overall winner after carding 40 points, Sam Njenga bagged the Men winners with 39 points while Bibiana Njoki won the lady winners having secured 38 points.

In the staff category, Scola Onsongo won the staff winner award with 40 points and Alice Awiti was the guest winner with 51 points.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Managing Director of KCB Investment Bank Linus Kang’ara said, “As KCB, we have for long been sports enthusiasts, and this East Africa Golf Tournament shows how far we are ready to go to make this sport grow. We desire to create more avenues to network, interact with our customers and create a brand that unites people beyond the formal setting.”

The 7^th leg which came after a two-week break will culminate with a golf clinic featuring juniors and ladies from the environs. Later, the bank will undertake tree planting in line with its sustainability agenda of environment conservation.