Part of action in previous KCB golf event

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The 7^th leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour will be held at the par 72 Thika Sports Club this coming weekend.

Action is set to tee off at 6:30 am as over 100 golfers from around Kiambu County and its environs take on the lush fairways at the Thika-based facility.

Before taking a two-week break following the 2023 WRC Safari Rally, the golf series had graced Nyanza Golf Club where Riaroh and her team of David Sate, Joyce Osike and Tabitha Ojwang’ emerged overall team winners to book a slot in the grand finale.

KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said: “We are delighted to host the 7^th leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour at the Thika Sports Club this weekend. I know the majority of golfers could not wait for the two-week break to come to an end for them to participate in the competitive tournament. We are expecting golfers to compete at the highest level, and it will be interesting to see who will emerge the top winners and seal a spot in the grand finale.”

Just like the previous legs of the tour, two top teams will be battling for the top two spots to book their qualifications for the grand finale slated for November at the Karen Country Club.

The main tournament will take place on Saturday while the juniors’ and ladies’ clinics will take place on Sunday, July 9^th at the same venue.

So far, the series has reached over 600 participants and over 300 juniors in the juniors’ clinics that are scheduled for Sundays alongside the ladies’ clinics.

“Our aim is to improve the sport not only in Kenya but also the greater East African region. We also want to give kids and women who are enthusiastic about golf an opportunity to learn and upscale through our golf clinics,” noted Mr. Russo.

After the Thika edition, action will head to Nyeri Golf Club on July 22^nd, 2023, for its 8^th leg.

Elvis Muigua poses with the winners trophy

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Elvis Muigua of Kiambu Golf Club had a fantastic final round of 69 gross in the 2023 Goldfields Trophy to emerge the champion with an overall gross of +6. Muigua was tied second going into the final round with a score of +9 while the overnight leader Godfrey Nsubuga of Mehta Golf Club-Uganda had a 6 shot lead with a +3 score. Muigua picked 6 birdies on the first 9 of the final round in holes, 1, 2, 5,6,7 and 8 and got pars on the remaining 3 holes. The second nine was not as glorious as the first. He dropped 4 shots on 4 holes but managed to birdie the last hole to finish the nine on +3 resulting in the final round score of 69 gross (-3). The win assured him an amount of Kshs 81,000 courtesy of the Co-Sponsors NCBA Bank and Fly Skyward Express.

Godfrey Nsubuga had a tough run in the final round producing a score of +9 and in overall settled for the runner-up position together with Nandi Bear’s Club Elly Barno on +12. The two got an amount of Kshs 40,500 each. John Timbe of Nyali Golf & Country Club was a close fourth with a +14 score winning Kshs 24,200.

The Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Chairman, Mr. Philip Ochola, lauded Elvis for the win and urged the club to strengthen its junior programs to ensure that players from the club and the region feature as champions for the series. He also appreciated the sponsors-NCBA Bank and Fly Skyward Express, who gave their support and ensured the success of the tournament. The Chairman of the Club Dr. Catherine Aura appreciated KGU for the inclusion of the tournament in the KAGC Series and ensuring that Kakamega is featured on the national space.

Present also during the presentation was the Fly Skyward Commercial Manager, Mr. Kelvin Mwasi expressed the airlines continued support of golf and appreciated the tournament administrator and referee Bernard Mwaura for ensuring that the event was held to a global standard. He further informed the golfers of the airline’s presence in the town and the various destinations that the airline operates in including Mombasa, Nairobi, Malindi, Lamu, Ukunda, Eldoret, Lodwar and Kakamega.

Action next weekend is at Nyeri Golf Club for the Mt. Kenya Championship that starts on Friday, 6^th July 2023.

KAGC Player Ranking and Points

1.    KARANGA, Michael-Kiambu Golf Club- 670

2.    LEJIRMA, John-Kenya Railway Golf Club- 429

3.    MUIGUA, Elvis-Kiambu Golf Club- 304

4.    MAARA, Dennis-Limuru Country Club- 238

5.    OMOLLO, Ebill-Vetlab Sports Club- 224

6.    NSUBUGA, Godfrey-Mehta Golf Club- 192

7.    MULAMA, Sammy-Golf Park Golf Club- 179

8.    BALALA, Adel-Vipingo Golf Resort- 136

9.    RONO, Josphat-Golf Park Golf Club- 111

10. LEMINGANI, Raphael-Golf Park Golf Club- 92

KAGC Club Trophy Ranking and Points

1.    Golf Park Golf Club- 504

2.    Kiambu Golf Club- 468

3.    Vetlab Sports Club- 416

4.    Kenya Railways Golf Club- 186

5.    Muthaiga Golf Club- 170