EYEING THE TOP PRIZE: Twafiq Balala takes a swing at the NIC Bank Golf Series Finale in Nyali.

By ENOCK NGOME

Handicap 17 golfer, John Smith is the winner of thefinal round of the NIC Bank Golf Series that took place at the 18-hole par-71Nyali Golf and Country Club over the weekend.

Smith scored 18 points on the front nine and 20 pointson the back nine for a total of 38 stable-ford points to emerge tops in thetournament that attracted 131 golfers to the coastal town of Nyali.

Coming in second was Salim Tweshe with 37 pointstotal. In third place was handicap 14 golfer Rohit Devani who managed 18 pointson the first nine and 19 points on the second nine, losing on countback toTweshe. Devani was nearest to the pin with 6ft 11 inches to cover in Saturday’stournament.

Handicap 7 lady golfer Diana Munyao scored 36 pointsto win the lady’s category ahead of Jayne Githere who came in second with 36points. In the guest category, Stephano Messina emerged best with 34 pointsbeating Richard Githii of handicap 18 who scored 31 points.

The staff prize was scooped by Tim Gitonga playing offhandicap 27. Gitonga managed 14 points on the front nine and 18 points on theback for a total of 32 points.

In the junior category Agil Ishaq topped with 34points; 14 on the first nine and 20 on the second nine.

Kellen Weku playing off handicap 26 dominated thefirst nine with 19 points while handicap 8 golfer Vishnu Dhutia was best in thesecond nine with 21 points.

The prize for the longest drive went to Taufiq Balalaof handicap 9 managing a 420-yard drive on the 6509-yard course

This tournament marked the end of the NIC Bank Golf Serieswhich visited 9 regions including Eldoret Golf Club, Vet Lab Sports Club, Nanyuki Sports Cluband Limuru Country Club in July. In August, the series visited the Nyanza Clubin Kisumu where golfers from Kakamega, Kisii, Kericho and Nandi Bearsparticipated. In September, the series moved to the Nakuru Golf Club, KiambuClub and Thika Sports Club. The NIC Bank Golf Series has brought together over2,000 golfers drawn from 1 golf clubs across the country.

NIC BankGroup Managing Director, James Macharia, says the bank will likely extend the sponsorshipto 2012 given the success of this year’s season in facilitating interactionbetween golfers and the bank. nike air max schwarz nike air max schwarz

By ENOCK NGOME

David Opati is the winner of the Keringet Kenya Amateur Open. Opati, a scratch handicap golfer, a member of the Golf Park Golf Club and a member of the national team, returned a score of 1-over par 289 after four rounds on the par-72 golf course at the THIKA Sports Club.

With this victory Opati automatically claims a place in the 2012 Kenya Open, a Challenge Tour professional golf event.

Opati started his campaign at THIKA with a opening score of 1-under par 71, he followed this with a 4-under par 68 establishing a 7-stroke lead that was narrowed down to a 4-stroke lead at the end of the third round. Patrick Kingori, Joseph Karanja, Robinson Owiti and Justus Madoya failed to capitalize on  Opati’s, poor finishing round of 75 on day three of the championship, returning equally poor rounds.

Opati’s rounds of 71, 68, 75 and 75 for 1-over total of 289 may have been good for a 9-strong victory and the Kenya Amateur Trophy, but failing to break par on a relatively easy golf course is damning for the standards of golf in Kenya. Justus Madoya, Robinson Owiti, Joseph Karanja, Anthony Kinuthia and Patrick Kingori finished second on 10-over par 298.

The Kenya Amateur Open is part of the Keringet sponsored KGU Golfer of the Year and is the most prestigious amateur championship in Kenya.

Three events now remain on the Keringet GOTY series; the Manchester Salver in Eldoret, the Uhuru Shield at Royal Nairobi and the season ender, the Nyali Open at the Nyali Golf and Country Club. Keringet have committed to support the GOTY series for three years. canada goose jacke herren canada goose jacke herren