Director Kibo Sports Nasoor Verjii and KOGL Tournament Director, Patrick Obath.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) has today received Titleist golf balls that will be used for practice by players at the 2020 Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa which will be held from the 12^th to the 15^th of March at the Karen Country Club. The golf balls were presented to KOGL by Kibo Sports Limited – an official distributor of Titleist products in Kenya.

Speaking at the handover ceremony at the Karen Country Club today, Kibo Sports representative, Nasoor Verjii, said the company is delighted to be part of the 2020 Magical Kenya Open by way of providing high quality balls to be used by all players in their preparation for the respective rounds.

“We have 500 dozen Titleist golf balls for the Kenya Open that is on from next week; so, we are very happy to have this opportunity. Over the years we have supported individual top amateurs as well as professionals by provided golf kits to them to help grow and develop their skills. We are therefore delighted to be part of this year’s tournament through this way,” he said.

On his part, KOGL Tournament Director, Patrick Obath, said:

“The balls, basically, will be used for practice on the range; and for the international Tour players, they need to have quality balls and so that’s what we have here: quality Titleist balls that they would normally use on the course. So, they have to play with exactly the same quality of ball when they are practising.”

He added that the balls will be donated to the Junior Golf Foundation as part of KOGL’s strategic objectives to continue supporting the growth and development of golf in the country.

“After the event, most of the balls will then go to the Junior Golf Foundation, though the Kenya Golf Union, and that will be used for the assistance of the development of golf in the country,” he said.

Last year, Kibo Sports donated golf balls to local and regional professional golfers who qualified to play at the Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship Presented by Absa through the 2018/19 Safari Tour Golf Series. All 15 professional golfers who qualified through the process received a dozen Titleist golf balls and a Titleist cap to wear during the tournament.

Ruiru Sport Club outgoing Captain Peter Mwaura (right) with his incoming Captain Thomas Mwaura (left)

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

James Kinuthia braved stiff competition to beat a large field of 261 golfers to emerge the overall winner of this year’s Captain’s prize (Peter Mwaura) competition at the Ruiru Sports Club at the weekend.

Kinuthia playing off handicap 26 carded 20 stableford points on the front nine, before amassing 22 points in the back nine for a total of 42 stableford points

“Today my putting was good, actually that is what made me win the competition. This is the first event I have ever won since I started playing golf and I’m very happy to have beaten guys who taught me how to play the sport,” Kinuthia said in his winner’s speech.

Isaac Nguku playing off handicap 12 emerged the men winner in category A on 38 points made up of 18 points in the front nine and 20 points in the back nine and handicap, while handicap 20 Kimani Munyuah was the category B men winner on 40 stableford and M. Waititu playing off handicap 24 emerged the category C men winner on 37 points.

L. Kwendo won the Bronze prize on 34 points, while the Silver category was won by Pauline Mungai on 36 points and handicap 15 C. Kiiyukia won the former captain’s category on 30 points.

Thika’s B. Kimani playing off handicap 20 was crowned the guest winner on 40 points, while Fr Mukua was the clergy winner on 30 points and the staff winner’s prize went to handicap 14 Martin Kiambi on 34 points.

Out going captain Mwaura termed the tournament as a success despite the massive field, everything went on smoothly.

“It’s been thrilling three years in the office and it’s exciting to have been part of the sort of transformation happening at the club,” said Mwaura as he handed the green jacket to the new captain Thomas Mwaura.

He added: “The focus was to grow the game of golf in the club and deliver key projects like course irrigation. These have come to be. The club can only get better.”

KCB Group Director Regional Business Paul Russo who also doubles up as National Bank of Kenya Managing Director heralded the sports club for a brilliant event adding that the bank will continue to invest in golf in a bid to nurture fresh talent.
“It was an exciting day at the course for the golfers, as KCB Group, we are pleased that our sponsorship novelty in golf continues to impact golf skills of our local pros as well as amateurs,” said Russo.
The competition was sposnored by KCB, NBK

Meanwhile, former junior player Agnes Nyakio, now playing off handicap four, proved that she had come of age as she emerged the overall winner of the 2020 Kabete Ladies Open on 76 gross.

Handicap five Mercy Nyanchama was the silver gross winner on 82 gross, while Grace Wanjohi playing off handicap 23 emerged the bronze gross winner on 96 gross and handicap 19 Dorris Mideva won the silver net prize on 72 nett.