KGU Chairman Anthony Kuhoro at a past function.

By KGG REPORTER

Selection of the Kenya amateur national golf team to feature at the Africa Championship to be hosted by Kenya next month is currently embroiled in controversy with players questioning the criteria being used by the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) to pick the team.

The players are accusing KGU of ignoring its own set criteria for selecting the national team using the Golfer of The Year (GOTY) ranking; and instead introducing a qualifying round for the first time ever, a move they say is against the union’s own rules. According to KGU’s stipulations, Goty points will count towards the selection of the national team.

Teams from a number of African countries will feature in the continental championship scheduled to be played at Limuru Country Club from October 12 to 16, 2015. Each country will be represented by a four-member team.

KGU on Wednesday announced a 54-hole qualifying round to be played at Limuru Country Club on Monday and Tuesday, September 21 and 22, 2015, with 36 holes being played on Monday and 18 on Tuesday.

But the players who are opposed to qualifying round are reading an ulterior motive by KGU’s move which they say is meant to create room for certain players to make the team, at the expense of those occupying top places in the Goty ranking.

Speaking to the press yesterday, the immediate former captain of the team, Robinson Owiti, said he would boycott the qualifying round, noting that: “This is beyond golf. It is politics.”

Owiti at the same time questioned KGU’s rationale of giving John Karichu who is currently leading in the Goty ranking an automatic place in the national team, while subjecting the rest of the players to fight for the remaining three slots in the qualifying round. “Let everybody go for the qualifying round. KGU must be fair to all the players.”

Owiti argues that the first four players in the Goty ranking are supposed to make the team. And according to the current Goty ranking the four should be: Karichu (Limuru CC), William Odera (Kericho), Alfred Nandwa (Njoro captain) and himself (Owiti). But Odera and Nandwa are under suspension by KGU on cheating claims, which leaves the next two players in the raking – Justus Madoya (Golf Park) and Kenneth Bolo (Royal Nairobi) to fill the suspended players’ slots.

In May this year, Owiti wrote to KGU complaining that Kenya’s position in golf in Africa was dropping and that players were being disillusioned by some of the happenings within the union. At the time, had raised the issue of Goty points system which he said was being “corrupted” to favour certain players to play in the national team. air max 95 air max 95

KenGen MD, Eng Abert Mugo in action during the KenGen Golf Day at Royal Nairobi Golf Club at the weekend.

By KGG CORRESPONDENT

Home player Tony Hui Xu resisted strong challenge from a filed of 120 players to emerge this year’s winner of Kengen Golf Day held at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club at the weekend.

Xu playing off handicap 17 scored 24 stableford points in the first nine and posted 25 points in the back nine for an impressive total of 49 points to win the day long competition.

It was Xu’s first major win since he started playing golf at the same club in 1998. Before the Kengen title he had only a club night in his 16-year golfing career.

“Off late I have been playing everyday and I’m starting to see the fruits. I am very happy with today’s win because it’s my first major tournament win in Kenya since I started playing golf, because the only other event I had won is a club night and on the same course,” said the businessman who saw his handicap slashed from 17 to 13 after the feat.

Tom Awili playing off handicap 23 became the men winner in the tournament after he gangrened 45 points (25, 20), while Tony Tugee playing handicap 15 settled for the men runner-up position on 40 points (21, 19) and handicap 23 Carilus Odemba needed a second nine score of 23 stableford points to beat Balbir Bhachu on countback and finish third on 39 points (16, 23). Bhachu finished fourth on 39 points (22, 17).

Njeru Kariuki playing off handicap 17 was unbeaten in the ladies category as she emerged victorious on 40 points (21, 19), while handicap 16 Mary Kibuga was second on 39 points (20, 19).

S. S. Mangat beat Aruna Shah on countback to claim the first nine prize on 20 points, while D. Gudka won the second nine prize on 23 points.

Peter Kiguru won the guest prize on 39 points while david Muthige was the staff winner on 28 points Mustafa Mohammedali had the men longest drive.

The ladies longest drive prize went to Dhuni Shah, while the Aamil Mughal had the nearest to the pin and Wilson Kamau won the best effort prize on 10 points.

Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, Kengen Managing Director Albert Mugo said plans were afoot to turn the annual tournament into a series in order to expand their reach to their consumers.

“Kengen is the biggest power producer in this country and sponsoring golf is part of our corporate responsibility. Our aim is to create awareness to the public on what we really do,” said Mugo. cheap air max cheap air max