WINNING TOUCH: Golf Park's Tony Omuli follows his tee during the Kenya Amateur Matchplay Championships at the weekend. He emerged the winner.

By JAMES WAINDI

This year’s Kenya Amateur Match Play Championships held at the Windsor Golf and Country Club could only be described as a roller coaster after the thrills that were produced in the 72-hole competition.

The Championship which is part of the Keringet Golfer of the year series was characterised by stiff competition that saw some of Kenya’s leading Amateur golfers losing to otherwise unknown players.

A number of unknown players made their way to the final with several upsets on the way to send a warning to seasoned players.

P. Muchangi of Limuru Golf Club playing off handicap 3, superseded all expectations gathering his first points since the GOTY series started in January. The player who eventually finished runner up at the prestigious championship had seen off National Team Player and defending champion Karanja J.W of Golf Park in the Semi Finals.

At the breath taking finals, Tony Omuli also of Golf Park went 6 up against Muchangi in the morning round, but the afternoon duel was however more balanced with the eventual winner T. Omuli finally winning 4/3.

For his grand effort and reaching the final Muchangi garnered 14 points against Omuli’s 16 points to break into the Top 10 position of the current GOTY standings, simply from a single feat.

Omuli moved up to fourth position in the standings while current leader David Opati maintains his lead at the helm despite having a dismal performance at the championships that saw him fail to pick any points.

His lead now hangs in the balance as he only enjoy’s a slim lead of 0.75 points over second placed Wangai C. J of Kenya Railway Club. Wangai could have leaped over Opati in the standings, but he was struck by the same fate as he also left the Championship with no pints having lost to D. Nduva in the Quarter Finals.

While awarding the winner with the Championship trophy, Keringet Brand Manager Charles Gitau was especially impressed by the high level of competition and consistency displayed by both players.

Muchangi who will now be treated with a lot of cautiousness in the remaining GOTY events also claimed the scalps of national team player J. Ndichu on his way to the finals.

In his speech, Muchangi remarked that he was encouraged by his Limuru team members who came in numbers to support him. The challenge is now on the upcoming player to deliver during the next event which will be in his back yard during the Limuru Open between July 13 and 14.

The winner of the Keringet Sponsored Kenya Amateur Match Play championship received an automatic ticket to play at next year’s Kenya Open Golf Championships. nike air max bw nike air max bw

WELL OUT: Nelius Kariuki comes out of the bunker during the third round of the Dasani Golf Gala at Vet Lab Golf Club two weeks ago.

By JAMES WAINDI

Last year’s Dasani Golf Gala’s grand finale’s winning team member Nassa Abbas will be going for a repeat performance at this year’s finale after earning qualification for the second time in a row, but this time with different members.

Abbas playing off handicap 17 posted an impressive score of 38 points made up of 20 stableford points in the first nine and 18 in the second nine to anchor his team to the second position during the fifth qualifier of the ongoing Dasani Golf Gala at the nine-hole Railway Golf Club on Saturday.

His team managed a combined score of 109 points, just losing to the winning team by a single point but still guaranteed themselves a ticket to the finale slated for September 29 at the Karen Golf and Country Club.

Other members of Abbas’ team included handicap 26 D. Kaburi who posted 37 points, handicap 26 H. Hasanli who contributed 31 points and G. S. Padam playing off handicap 12 was the team’s weakest link on 31 points.

Home player James Mburu Muigai anchored his team to victory at the action packed round, thanks to a team score of 110 points. Muigai playing off handicap six carded identical 20 stableford points in both nines for a score of 40 points, while Robert Maina playing off handicap nine had 35 points and handicap five Frank Kaniaru had 35 points as well. David Mbatia playing off handicap four was the team’s weakest link on 30 points. pulsera pandora barata pulsera pandora barata