Ronald Omariba (left) receives the winner's prize from ICON Sports Managing Director Grace Kiraguri after winning the Dasani Golf Gala at the Leisure Lodge Club on Saturday.

By JAMES WAINDI

Leisure lodge’s key caddie Ronald Omariba steered his team to a famous victory at the par 72 Leisure Golf and Country Club on Saturday with a team score of 98 points.

Omariba playing off handicap 11 anchored the winning team with a personal score of 37 stableford points as they amassed a total of 98 points to win the daylong event and automatically qualified for the tournament’s Grand Finalle slated for the Karen Golf and Country Club on September 29.

He posted 19 points in the front nine before posting 18 points in the back nine after picking two birdies on the par five hole two and par three hole five. Wilson Atuka playing off handicap six had 31 points, while handicap three Charles Sire contributed 30 points to the group and Pauni Gwerenya playing off handicap 24 was the team’s weakest link on 27 points.

“I am very happy with today’s results and I would like to thank my sponsor because without him I could not have made it to play today. Having been attached to the club for seven years, I knew the course very well and I can say that it was one of my advantages today,” said Omariba.

He added: “I have won many events at the course before including the Heritage Day event last year and the win did not come as a surprise and I plan to repeat the feat at the finale come September. I believe I can still perform even at a different course and we will be going for the main prize at the Karen Finale.”

The second best team at the tournament was made up of Gansham Kumar, Stephan Wentzel, Sabina Funk and Aussi Mike who managed a team score of 92 points. Kumar playing off handicap 19 had 32 points while Wentzel playing off handicap 11 had 32 points and handicap 19 Funk amassed 28 points with Mike being the weakest link on 27 points.

The reserve team made up of Laura Lottko (29), Lukas Shikanda (26), Robert Kazungu (30) and Ali Chikumbo (31) scored a team score of 90 points.

Mombasa Golf Club’s Sylvester Odhiambo playing off handicap was the tournament’s guest winner on 35 points, while William Kaguta had the men’s longest drive after recording 222 metres. Cheryl Bush won the ladies’ longest drive prize after registering 150 metres and Wanyoni Chebukati won the nearest to the pin on 53cm.

Speaking at the function, Rachiel Mbogho the Key Accounts Manager Coastal Bottlers Coca Cola 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.

Action now moves to Royal Nairobi Golf Club next week where eight more qualifiers would be picked from the seventh leg to be held at the Leisure Lodge Golf Club Club on Saturday. air max 95 air max 95

Fernando Marques follows his tee shot during the Nyali leg last weekend. The Dasani Golf Gala this week moves to Leisure Lodge for the seventh leg.

By JAMES WAINDI

A total of 92 players have been drawn from Vipingo Ridge and home club Leisure Lodge Golf Club to feature in the seventh leg of the ongoing Dasani Golf Gala at the scenic par 72 Leisure course.

Already 12 teams of forty eight players have qualified for the Gala’s grand finale slated for Karen Golf and Country Club on September 29, after the previous six rounds and a fierce battle will be expected at the seventh round where the out of the 92 players only the best eight will earn tickets to the coveted finale.

Club manager Ernest Chea has told players to expect a good round of golf noting that the course is easy apart from its signature hole, which is hole 15. Chea said the fairways are in good condition and that the greens are also well kept

“The signature hole is hole 15. This hole is a par 3 across the Lake Wilhelm. Gold is 152 metres, White 139 metres, Blue 115 metres with a stroke index of 14. The best way to play this hole based on my experience is to know your driving power, use the appropriate club and consider the wind direction. If you are hydrophobic you will put all the balls in the water,” Chea said.

He added: “Players coming for the event will have an experience of a life time since Leisure Golf Club is the most beautiful golf course in East Africa. It offers a standard of care and maintenance that will satisfy their demands at any time of the year. The course designed by Tommy Fjastad is characterized by rolling fairways, 88 challenging bunkers, appealing water features and impeccable greens.”

Among the players expected to spice up the day long tournament will be handicap six Mitesh Allan who teams up with handicap 17 Ken Okeyo and J. Davis to make up a formidable team that will certainly be favoured on paper. They tee off at 12.20pm. The other team to watch is the team handicap two Amos Kamau, Major General Rob and P. Gathuri who will be teeing off at 13.30, while A. Haballa playing off handicap 16 could also claim some scalps in the competition.

This year, the grand prize 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. joyasdepandora joyasdepandora