PLOTTING NEXT ACTION: Joseph Thiga lines his putt during the competition at Thika Sports Club. His team finished second in the competition.

By KGG CORRESPONDENT

Members of Ruiru and Makuyu Golf Clubs had a tough day on the course dominated by Thika Sports Club members who claimed all the three qualification slots to the Dasani Golf Gala Grand Finale.

The team of Stephen Kinyanjui, Simon Ndungu, David Njehia and John Thairo carried the day with an excellent team score of 111 stableford points. Kinyanjui who was the team’s pilot returned a magnificent 41points, Ndungu managed 36points while Njehia contributed 34points. Thairo however was the team’s weakest link and shot 32points.

The Vice-Captain Thika Sports Club  Handicap 7 Patrick Gakuo scored a hole-in-one on number four one of his first in his golfing career. Speaking after his round, an elated Gakuo who admitted that he has never scored a nearest to the pin said that good company, accommodating weather and a lot of effort worked to his advantage. “In my 25 years of golf this is my first one-in-hole and I must say that I trust my team will work well.”

The team of former chairman David Wainaina, Joseph Thiga, David Karuma and Walsh Irungu finished second after posting a team score of 109 beating the third team of Wycliffe Murwayi, Kim Nderitu, Jitan Shah and Rajan Shah on countback. Thiga anchored the team on 38, Karuma contributed 36 and Walsh Irungu shot a magnificent 35. Wainaina was the team’s weakest link returning 32. However, his score was influential as it was used to determine a higher  slot for his team following the rules of the Gala that uses the fourth winner to decide the winner.He beat  the third team’s Rajan Shah who could only manage 27points.

The individual prize went to the handicap 24 Wycliffe Murwayi who shot an exceelent 44 points beating phillip Mionki who did a magnificent 40points.

David Sate from Nyanza Golf Club won the guest prize on 37points beating Limuru’s Peter Maina who only managed 32 points.

The Gala now moves to Windsor Golf Resort coming weekend where two qualification slots to the Grand Finale are up for grabs before moving to Nyali where Coast based Golf clubs will converge at Nyali.

The winning team in the Dasani Golf Gala wins an all expense paid trip to the TOUR Championship, presented by Coca-Cola, at the East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta, Georgia. The TOUR Championship is the last event of the US-PGA Tour and only the top 30 golf professionals in the world are invited to compete. The VIP winners will also play on the Tour’s top golf courses including the TPC SugarLoaf and the TPC SawGrass in Florida. The winners will also get a tour of the home Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. cgparka cgparka

Thika Captain Edward Ndungu tees off at a past Dasani Golf Gala Event.

By KGG CORRESPONDENT

More than 200 golfers will this weekend converge at the Thika Sports Club for the seventh event of the Dasani Golf Gala. Member hosts with those of the sister clubs Ruiru and Makuyu will compete for three qualification slots to the Grand Finale.

According to Thika Sports Club captain Dr. Edward Ndungu, the oversubscribed event where  three clubs are playing, will tee off very early in the morning. “Over 200 golfers have registered for the event and so we have to start early. It’s going to be a very exciting affair and although the course will be somewhat challenging, golfers can be sure they will have fun.”

Among the favourites will be veterans Joe Thiga, JM Thairo and Mugo Kirika. Ndungu added that the teams formed as soon as the Dasani Gala event was announced are very well prepared. “We have some very interesting four balls and I am sure my teams will carry the day and indeed win the trip to Atlanta at the Grand Finale. We are well prepared and I can assure you that the course will be very interesting.”

The captain who plays off handicap 11 will play in the company of handicap 27 Margret Waweru, S.G Njuguna handicap 15 and J.N Waweru who plays off handicap 13. They play at 11 in the morning.

Coca-Cola Country Manager Peter Njonjo said that the Gala in its 7th leg is doing well owing to the rave reviews the event is getting. “Many golfers are excited about Dasani Golf Gala. We have large turnouts wherever we go and I’d encourage more golfers to join,” he said.

The gala has visited Kiambu, Limuru, Vetlab, Machakos, Sigona and the Kenyan Home of golf Muthaiga where teams that have qualified to the Grand Finale are gearing up towards winning the Gala.

From Thika the gala will move to the prestigious Windsor Hotel and Golf Resort which is reputed to be one of the toughest golf courses in Africa. At stake will be four qualification slots to the Grand Finale. Last year’s winner from windsor was nine year old Maria Vergos. canada goose jacke damen canada goose jacke damen