Thika’s Simon Ngige at Karen Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige produced a bogey-free six-under par 66 at the close of day one of the 2022 Safari Tour seventh leg at Karen Country Club’s par 72 course on Sunday.

He holed in eight pars and a birdie at the par-four-ninth, then birdied the 13^th, 15^th, 16^th and an eagle three at the par five-18^th for a low 31 and his brilliant six-under par score which was one shot better than Mohit Mediratta of Sigona who shot five-under par 67.

Mediratta started well, firing three back-to-back birdies over the first three holes, but made a double-bogey six at the par four-sixth, one of the toughest holes at Karen. He however made birdies from the 11^th to the 13^th and closed with back-to-back birdies in the last two holes.

Three other players led by Kisumu-based David Odhiambo tied on four under par 68 in the opening day which saw 20 players finishing on under-par scores an indication of a tight cut in today Monday’s second-round cut. Odhiambo who dropped a shot in each nine, made three birdies at the front nine’s second and third and at the par three-seventh before he bogeyed the eighth.

Of the other two, Zimbabwe’s Visitor Mapwanya started with a bogey and ended the front nine with another bogey, but he made a birdie and an eagle at the second and third while at the back nine Mapwanya birdied the 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th and later on the 15^th but closed the day with a bogey at the par five-18^th . Zambia’s Sydney Wemba recovered from an early bogey at the first hole, to roll in birdies at the seventh and eighth and the back nine’s 11^th, 13^th, and 15^th to stay close to the leader.

Tournament favorite Robson Chinhoi from Zimbabwe, three-putted the 13^th and lost a ball at the par-five- 15^th but still managed to finish the day on three under par 69.

“The course is generally good, the greens though not fast but they are ok. The course is definitely better than Limuru. I am happy with my game despite three-putting the 13^th and the bogey at the 15^th as a result of a lost ball. A double-digit will be good for me even if I don’t win’’ said Chinhoi who won the sixth leg at Limuru on two under par total.

Uganda Open champion Justus Madoya shot two under par 70 to tie for seventh place with Muthaiga’s Mutahi Kibugu and Riz Charania of Windsor. Five others were on one under par 71 and were led by Uganda’s Silver Opio and included Mathew Wahome from Nyali Golf and Country Club.  A field of 76 players including three amateurs had teed off in the opening round where Limuru Country Club’s Dennis Maara was the best amateur on four over par 76.

The Leader Board:

Simon Ngige 66

Mohit Mediratta 67

Sydney Wemba (Zam) 68

Visitor Mapwanya(Zim) 68

David Odhiambo 68

Robson Chinhoi (Zim) 69

Justus Madoya 70

Mutahi Kibugu 70

Riz Charania 70.

Overall winner Saj Shah (right) receives the winner’s trophy from Eng. John Tanui during the Nyali Chairman’s Prize in Mombasa. Shah carded 40 points.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Nyali Golf and Country Club’s Saj Shah carded a round of 40 points to win the Chairman’s Prize Tournament presented by Konza Technopolis on Saturday, beating a field of 247 participating golfers.
Playing off handicap 22, Shah earned an impressive 21 points in the first nine and 19 points in the second nine to record his second win in two years, having won the club’s Captain’s Overall Winner in January 2021 with 48 points.
Playing in the competition’s stableford format at the par 71 home club, Epapra Lagat, playing off handicap 22 carded 20 points in both the first and second nines to emerge the men’s winner ahead of Zafir Din who scored 22 points in the first nine and 18 points in the second nines to emerged Men’s Runner up. Dhanji Pindolia came third with 39 points.

In the Ladies’ category, Nyali’s Lady Captain Mary Kandu, playing off handicap 14, carded 39 points claim the top spot, two points ahead of her nearest challenger Truphena Oyaro who emerged second.
Meanwhile, 13 –year-old Ijaz-Is Haq, playing off handicap 19, hit an impressive score of 38 points on the course to emerge the best junior of the Taib Bajaber Chairman’s Prize.
The tournament was open to all men and lady members of the home club and other nearby clubs such as Mombasa Golf Club and Vipingo Ridge Golf Club.

Nyali’s Lady Captain Mary Kandu (l) poses with her trophy together with Konza Technopolis Director Caroline Kariuki and Nyali Golf Club Chairman Taib Bajaber.

Speaking at the tournament, Eng. John Tanui, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) said: “We are excited to collaborate with Nyali Golf Club in the Chairman’s Prize as part of our Konza Golf InvesTeeing Golf Series which we are organising across the country. The purpose of the Series is to engage the business community in this region to share what we have as an investment hub. Being a special economic zone and an upcoming city, we have many opportunities that we are sharing. Today’s tournament was aimed at deepening our relations with the investors.

The Konza InvesTeeing series seeks to attract, onboard and retain key investors at the upcoming smart city.

He added that Konza Technopolis’ anchor project, Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is ongoing and that KoTDA is also working towards developing a smart city.

During the tournament, the Club’s immediate Chairman Taib Bajaber expressed delight at the large number of players who participated in the Chairman’s Prize, adding they were glad to have a good number of sponsors.
“The members of Nyali Golf have turned out in large numbers of up to 247 today. We have also had a number of sponsors like Konza Technopolis, Kericho Gold and Kitui Flour Mills amongst others. We had the first tee off at 6 a.m. and the game has been good” he said.
The club held the Captain’s Prize in January as part of the clubs tradition to honor outgoing officials.

The Nyali tournament marked the 4th edition of the Konza InvesTeeing Golf Series whose inaugural edition was held on 25th September 2021 in Machakos Golf Club. The second leg of the tournament series moved to the par-72 Karen Country Club where Naivasha Sports Club’s Joseph Waigwa won with 41 points.
The third leg of the Series was held at Eldoret Club on 11th December 2021, where Eldoret Club’s Linda Kangogo carded a round of 42 points to emerge the overall winner of the tournament.