By ENOCK NGOME

Arnest Mwanza emerged the winner of the tenth qualifying round of the Safaricom Business Golf Challenge to win a fully sponsored trip for the grand finale of the series scheduled for April 28 next year at Rea Vipingo Ridge in Mombasa.

The lowest handicap (3) in Eastern region who also recently represented Kenya at Mauritius in a Prime Bank Golf competition produced a stunning performance for the day at the Par 72 Machakos Golf course where about 60 golfers turned up to battle it out for the grand prize of the series.

Arnest set off his game hitting four back to back pars on par 5, par 3, par 4 and par 4 on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th holes respectively. He hit a birdie on par 3 fifth hole, a par on sixth par 4 but dropped two shots each on par 4 and par 3, 7th and 8th holes respectively.

The handicap 3 hit a stunning birdie on hole nine, par five to pen 20 points on front nine.

Arnest back nine was marred by dropping three shots, a shot on par 5 hole 10 and two shots on the par 4,hole number 15 stroke index 4. He hit pars on 11th,12th,13th,14th and 16th holes, par 3,par 4,par 4,par4 and par 4 respectively.

Mwanza recovered with two stunning birdies on par 3,17th hole and par 5, 18th whereby he hit the longest drive men with 350 yards to net down 38 stable ford points and emerge the best for the day.

“I understand the course; it’s rough especially on this rainy season, so I always keep my balls on the fairway and that how I won. I always go for anything below par and if I drop a shot I always know where to play a recovery birdie.”
Said Mwanza on receiving his ticket for the grand finale from Leonard Osumba, the Safaricom Business head of Enterprise Sales and Retention.

Playing off handicap 14 was Tito Musyoka who hit the second best for the day with 37 stable ford points, 17 and 20 on front and back nine respectively to also qualify for the grand finale.

The hard hitting Musyoka hit bogeys on 1st, 2nd, dropped two shots on 4th, a bogey each on 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th on the front nine. He shot seven pars on 3rd, 8th, 11th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th holes respectively.

Safaricom Business had also sponsored caddies completion which was won by handicap 2 Michael Mutua on 26 stable ford points. The junior winner for the day was handicap 28 Edwin Wambua who played a total of 21 stable ford points, 9 front
and 12 back nine.

Longest drive Men was won by David Saikwa playing off handicap two who also won the guest prize and for ladies went to Mwongeli Nzioka playing off handicap 10. Mwongeli is also the clubs Ladies Captain.

All the winners received Mobile phones, Laptops and Airtime from Safaricom Business.

The challenge takes a break and resumes next year January all the way to the Grand Finale on 28th April. zapatillas air max zapatillas air max

By CORRESPONDENT

FOCUSED: Railway's John Wangai follows his swing at a past Tusker Malt event. The action moves to Kiambu Golf Club this weekend.

The fourth leg of the Tusker Malt Golf Carnival tees off this weekend at the 9-hole par-72 Kiambu Golf Club, as the carnival picks up pace, with over 130 golfers drawn up for the tournament.

Action begins at 7.30am to end a little after 11am with the afternoon tee off scheduled for 2pm to end slightly after 6pm.

Club Captain Patrick Wanjohi says the course is ready for Saturday’s challenge and cites possible downpour as the only challenge anticipated. “The course is in good condition, the greens and fairways are great and the roughs have been cut. I am certain the players will enjoy the course,” says Wanjohi.

Wanjohi adds that the field of golfers drawn for this event consists of strong players and the tournament is anyone’s game. “The unpredictability makes it even more interesting!” Wanjohi says.

The ongoing Tusker Malt Golf Carnival has attracted a lot of interest from amateur golfers across the country with a field of 450 players having participated so far in the three events that took place at the Kenya Railway Golf Club, Machakos and Njoro in the past two months.

The new format of play “The Four Ball Better Ball” synonymous with international golfing circles notwithstanding, players have mastered their way to scoring highly with the highest so far being the team of Joseph Murungi and General Munyao of Machakos Country Club with 48 points.

With just a point shy of the Machakos pair is the team of Captain Nthiomi Majau and Walter Onyino who posted a team score of 47 points at the inaugural tournament held at the Railway Golf Club in September.

The duo of Mandip Sahota and Sazai Singh of Njoro are so far in third place in terms of winning team scores ranking. They missed out on top position after they were disqualified for breaching club rules of play at the Tusker Malt Golf Carnival tournament held at the 9-hole par-73 Njoro Country Club early this month.

The carnival is scheduled to visit 30 golf clubs and engage some 10, 000 golfers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda in a regional tour aimed at promoting bonding and friendship, the brand value of Tusker Malt.

The fifth event in the carnival that is gathering ground fast, heads to Eldoret Golf Club where Kitale and Nandi Bears will lock horns. Ten more events are lined up to take place all across the country. michael kors el corte ingles michael kors el corte ingles