John Karichu celebrates after sinking a putt at a past tournament.

By KGG CORRESPONDENT

Defending champion John Karichu of Limuru Country Club on Sunday beat Kenya Amateur strokeplay champion Daniel Nduva in the second hole of a sudden-death play-off to retain Sigona Bowl golf title at Sigona Golf Club.

According to Nation, the two leading amateurs in Kenya had tied on five over par 221 gross at the close of regulation play, and proceeded to a play off. They tied with a par in the first hole of the play off before Karichu parred after firing a four iron and pitching wedge in the second hole.

Nduva overshot the green, chipped back to about 15 feet and missed a par narrowly to settle for the second place in the season-opener sponsored by Kibo Sports Limited for the 20th year running.

Before the play off, Karichu had posted four over par 76 to bring his score to 221, while Nduva had fired level par 72.

“It was a tough round, particularly playing with Nduva although my game has been good since the December,” Karichu, who had double-bogeyed the 11th after dropping shots at the fifth and ninth holes and later at the 16th, said.

Nduva said his first round score of 77 after a slow play messed up his plans for the title.

“We had to wait at every hole in the first round, although I played well in the second and final rounds,’’ Nduva, who birdied four holes but against four bogeys, said.

Finishing third on 223 points was Royal Nairobi’s Dennis Saikwa. Saikwa’s club-mate, Jay Sandhu, took the first round gross on 74, while the second and third rounds went to Peter Rimui and Samuel Njoroge of Railway.

Taking the overall net title in the event which attracted a field of 140 was Keval Shah of Sigona with 219 nett after beating Deep Shah, also of Sigona, on countback. The 13-year-old Leo Zurovac of Vet Lab was third with a score of 222 nett. The round one nett title went to Limuru’s Brian Njoroge on 73.

David Bailey and Reuben Langat won the second and third nett titles on 71 nett each.

The second leg of the 19-event Kenya Amateur Golf Championship series will be the Mt Kenya Championship at Nyeri Golf Club on February 3 and 4. cheap air max mens cheap air max mens

Edwin Mudanyi (left) awarded by Umesh Nichat during Manchester Salver prize giving at Eldoret Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Long hitting Vet Lab golfer Edwin Mudanyi look focused on clinching the coveted Golfer Of The Year (GOTY) title after he reigned supreme at the Manchester Salver golf tournament, which was the 16^th leg of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championships, held at the Eldoret Golf Club at the weekend.

Mudanyi who plays his golf at Vet Lab, emerged the winner to make it a back-to-back victory by Vet Lab members since last year’s event was also won by a Vet Lab player.

Playing off handicap +1, the national team player had two over par 73 to improve on his day one scores and finish on two over par 144.

He is is now optimistic of carrying the same form to the remaining events, Nyanza Open which is due in a fortnight, followed by Uhuru Shield at Royal Club before closing the year with Nyali Open at Nyali Club.

He played one over in the front nine and added another one over in the second nine to round off the event with two over.

Coming to Eldoret as the series leader with 371.5 points, Mundayi led by two shots against his competitors on day one.

Mudanyi started with back-to-back pars before shooting a bogey on the par 3 hole three, registering eight pars in the front nine.

He bogeyed on hole 11 but recovered with a birdie on hole 12 dropped a shot on 13, back-to-back birdies on holes 14 and 15 to bring him back to the game and completed with all pars.

Mudanyi said he had to keep it cool after the birdies since the course was good.

“The greens were goodand playable , the pins today were a bit tight but I really tried to use my knowledge as this was my home course before and my game plan was the same playing away from the pins that is why I shot low scores that I expected,” said Mudanyi.

Ruirui’s Bernard Omondi was second with five over par 147 followed by Vet Lab’s Mike Kisia with six over par 148 before Nandi Bears’ Tom Atuma came fourth on seven over par 149.

Manchester Salver Results:

1. Edwin Mudanyi (Vetlab)-71, 73=144

2. Bernard Omondi (Ruiru)-73,74=147

3. Mike Kisia (Vetlab)-74,74)=148

4. Tom Atuma (Nandi Bears)=74,75=149

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