Part of the prize giving ceremony at the function in Nyali.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Former lady captain Joyce Masai emerged the winner in the second leg of the KCB Road To The Masters at the Par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club.

Handicap 12 Masai, who served as the Nyali Lady Captain in 2017, shot 43 stable-ford points made up of 21 in the front nine and 22 in the back nine.

She leads the next lot of six qualifiers to the KCB Karen Masters Pro-Am which will curtain raise the Sunshine Tour sanctioned main event at the Par 71 Karen Country Club in June.

Speaking during the prize giving, KCB Regional Business Manager Coast, Jane isiaho said:  “As a Bank, we appreciate the assurance the golfing fraternity has on our brand. We believe in growing sports talent for local and international competition and by doing so, is our way of using golf to promote sports tourism in Kenya. I take this opportunity to congratulate the winners of this series,” she said.

CJ Wangai of Sigona won the pro category taking home Ksh. 85_000. Second placed Greg Snow collected Ksh 55,000 while third placed pro Frank Matilo of Muthaiga took home 45,000.

Other qualifiers are men’s winner Joseph Oluoch on 43 points,guest winner Fredrick Wagura handicap 19 of Golf Park on 38 and junior winner Andrew Wahome who had 38 points.

Also in the Pro-Am mix is staff winner Ibrahim Lande who is also the KCB Bank Platinum Relations Manager.

Handicap 26 Lande who is a member of Machakos club is incidentally the reigning Inter Banks golf champion.

Thirteen year old Andrew is a sibling to Mathew Wahome who played as a junior in the 2016 edition of the Kenya Open.

The sixth qualifier Abubakar Bajaber becomes the second winner of the wildcard which for second time running has been determined with a lucky dip of score cards returned to the “19th hole”.

The men’s runner up award went to Abdallah Taib on 40 stable-ford points.

The Lady runner up was Farida Saeed on 37.

Longest drive best man was Allan Mola. Purity Mutinda won longest drive in the ladies category.

Nearest to Pin honors  went to Bharat Chavda.

Best Effort (pigi mingi) went to Anthony Kariuki on 15 points.

The first batch of qualifiers were ascertained at Sigona Golf Club during the first round of the series which didn’t feature professional players. 

Each of the 5 Legs of the series are being used as qualification rounds for amateurs who will  play at at the Karen Masters Pro-Am.

Six qualifiers will be selected from each leg where. 30 amateurs participating in the prestigious  Karen Masters ProAm, which will be held at the Karen Country Club. The third round of the Road to the Masters  heads to Thika Sports Club next month.

CJ Wangai in action at Nyali Club

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

CJ Wangai”s round of four under par 67 steered him to victory in the second round of the KCB Road To The Masters which culminated at the Par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club.

The Sigona resident professional had his campaign effectively sewn up when day one leader Greg Snow faltered on day two.

Wangai, who tied for second on day one with 3 over, wrapped up the coast round on a gross total of one under par 141. He made four birdies on holes 1, 5, 8 and 11 and parred the rest.

“After Snow’s five shot lead on Friday, the plan was to safeguard second place, so I had no expectations to win. But at the end of it all, I’m glad I struck the ball well off the tees and putted well. I also hit the greens in regulation and I’m happy it came as a pleasant surprise with no bogies in the closing round,” Wangai. This was Wangai’s first victory since his home win during the 2018 Kenya Open qualifier at Sigona.

“It’s quite a good feeling to end the coast tour on a high.Thanks to KCB for organizing this event. The essence is stay in good shape in time for the Sunshine Tour Karen Masters,” he added.

Greg Snow’s disappointing round of three over today dipped him to second on one over par 143.

“It was a bad day at the office, one of those days, I may say. I didn’t hit the ball with precision and was all over the place,” said Snow.

Third on two over 144 gross was Muthaiga’s Frank Matilo. Matilo shot 3 over par 74 on Friday and 1 under today.

Richard Ainley of Nakuru and Nyali resident professional Njuguna Ngugi posted a gross total of three over 145 to finish joint fourth.

It was also a bad day at the office for long hitting Mumias pro Dismas Indiza whose total of five over par 147 saw him settle for joint sixth with David Odhiambo of Kisumu, Ken Abuto of Royal and Sujaan Shah of Sigona.

Eric Ooko of Royal Nairobi Golf Club occupied 10th with rounds of 78 and 70 for a total of six over par 148.

The third round of the Road To The Masters series moves to Thika on April 13.