KCB head of corporate banking Timothy Kuria (right) presents a present to one of the winners at the competition.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Home golfer George Makori led the last batch of qualifiers from Royal Nairobi Golf Club to the Pro-Am of the forthcoming KCB Karen Masters and excused confidence ahead of the Sunshine Tour event.

Playing off handicap 15, Makori shot 39 stableford points made up of 19 in the front nine and 20 in the back nine to emerge the overall winner.

“I’m over the moon. Qualifying for the Masters is a dream come true and a once in a lifetime opportunity for locals who now have the chance to brush shoulders with the cream of Sunshine Tour ‘s Best. Being the last group of qualifiers ,we have a lot of catch up to do as there are only two weeks left before the event starts,.Play was all good. I enjoyed my four ball which included Ken Monari” said Makori after winning the fifth and last round of the KCB Read To The Masters.

Other qualifiers from Royal Nairobi were men’s winner Robert Nyanchoga with 38points, lady winner Jessica Kang with 33 points, staff winner Timothy Kuria with 28 points, guest winner Muli Kavita from Machakos Golf Club with 39 points and the wildcard winner Charles Machani whose slot was determined by a random balloting of players cards at prize giving.

Like Makori, Nyanchoga savored Karen Masters qualification. He beat clubmate Bharat Gohil to the Masters slot on countback.

Nyanchoga shot 21 and 17 on both nines whereas Gohil carded scores of 20 and 18 in the first and second nines respectively .

Men’s third with a score of 37 was Benard Kiraithe. First nine winner with a score of 20 was J Juma while Chrispin Muoune won the second nine on a similar score.

Nancy Ikinu and Allan Oluoch were the women’s and men’s longest drive winners.

Lady winner Jessica Kang also won nearest to the pin.

KCB Bank Kenya Head of Corporate Banking. Timothy Kuria who was also the staff winner lauded the golfers for the huge turnout. Over 200 golfer took part in the event. “We are redefining golfing in Kenya by increasingly giving more opportunities to amateur and professional golfers across the country. We believe in growing sports talent for local and international competitions. It’s our way of using golf to promote sports tourism and as a result catalyzing Kenya’s economic growth agenda. On behalf of KCB Bank, I welcome you to the 2019 KCB Karen Masters that will tee off at Karen Country Club on 26^th -30^th June 2019. Come join the swing masters in what promises to be a week of great golfing action,” he added.

Dismas Indiza in action at Royal Golf Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Dismas Indiza stormed to victory in the fifth and last keg of the KCB Road To The Masters which culminated today at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club.
The Mumias long hitter savored his first win in four months saying his touch is returning in time for the KCB Karen Masters slated for Karen Country Club from June 27-30.
Indiza extended his lead into the last day when he fired the day’s best score of 2 under par 69 for a gross total of 2 under par 214 after three rounds.
It was the Mumias long hitter’s first title for four months since winning the Safari Tour leg in Karen last February.
“The greens were very fast today but we soldiered on. The last two days have been good to me despite the tough conditions and I’m glad I have had my first Road To The Masters win since the series started. The roughs were also really thick,” said Indiza.
Indiza dropped a shot after he three putted the par four first hole. He then made birdies on holes two and four for a score of 35 on the first nine.
Indiza’s back nine was bogey free also with two birdies in the 10th and 14th for a 34.
PGK captain CJ Wangai and Greg Snow tied for second with 2 over par 218.
Snow carded the day’s second best score of 2 under par 70 with Wangai playing a closing round of levels or 72.
In fourth position was Great Rift’s Justus Madoya on 3 over par 219.
Madoya posted the day’s third best score of 1 under.
The KCB Road To Karen Masters has been to Sigona Golf Club, Nakuru Golf Club, Nyali Golf and Country Club,Thika Sports Club-and now Royal Nairobi.
The pros started their campaign in the second round after the opening round at Sigona coincided with the Safari Tour Golf Series.
A total of 24 amateur golfers have so far qualified for the Karen Masters Pro-Am with the  last six set to be determined this Saturday.
The most exciting bit of the amateur competition in the Road To Masters has been the wildcard which has since been determined by the host clubs .
Some clubs like Nyali and Sigona have resorted to a lucky dip of cards to pick the wildcard slot. Others like Nyali and Thika have preferred to hand the wildcard slot to juniors.
It will be interesting to see who takes the fifth wildcard at Royal Nairobi this weekend.
Whatever is up the sleeves of the amateur players this weekend will be known during prize giving on Saturday.

Final Results-KCB Road To Karen Masters:
1. Dismas Indiza 214 (-2)
T2. CJ Wangai 218 (+2)
T2. Greg Snow 218 (+2)
4. Justus Madoya 219 (+3)
5. Edwin Mudanyi 221(+5)
T6. Njuguna Ngugi 223 (+7)
T6. David Wakhu 223 (+7)
T8. Nelson Mudanyi 225(+9)
T8. JW Karanja 225(+9)
T8. Alfred Nandwa 225(+9)
11. Simon Ngige 226 (+10)