Nelson Simwa (right) will be the captain of the team.

By DANIELLA APIYO

The Kenya National Golf Team to East African Challenge 2014 arrived in Entebbe, Uganda safely last evening where they are expected to defend their Championship.

The team joined other five countries from East Africa who will be seeking to take away the coveted title from Kenya who won it on home soil last year.

The nine-man team consists of five senior players including Nelson Simwa (Vet Lab), John Karichu (Limuru), Tony Omuli (Golf Park), Alfred Nandwa (Railway) and Robinson Owiti (Vet Lab) and four juniors Agil Is Hag (Nyali), Mathew Wahome (Nyali), Tahir Mohamed (Nyali) and Kush Mediratta(Sigona).

The team was accompanied by Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman Peter Warui, Team Manager Andrew Chelogoi and Coach Anil Shah.

The Challenge will run to September 1 at the Entebbe Golf Club, Uganda.

Kenya has won the trophy a record 11 times since 1999 and will be seeking to retain the title.

KGU chairman, Warui exuded confidence that the team was in high spirits and expected them to perform well.

The team has been training for the last two weeks under the leadership of Muthaiga residence coach, Anil Shah and have used the Rapid Challenge Event as a build-up match which has been played between Junior Team, Professional Golfers Of Kenya.

The East Africa Golf Challenge event remains one of the most prestigious golf competitions in East Africa. It was first played in 1999 in Kenya and it involves the members of East Africa Community. Last year Ethiopia was invited to participate and they have also confirmed their participation in this year’s event.

Competing countries include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia. The format involves 4 rounds of golf with singles, foursomes, four ball better ball and final singles. Each country has eight players and a reserve. nike air max cheap wholesale nike air max cheap wholesale

Thika’s Simon Ngige follows his tee shot during the event.

By FIDEL ONO

First leg champion Simon Ngige of Sports Club, fired his second 67 for a total of six under par total of 134 to take home the top prize of Sh117, 000 in the third leg of the 2014 KCB Golf Tour at the par 70 Nyanza Golf Club course on Saturday.

Ngige, a two times winner of the KCb Tour Order of Merit, played a low and bogey-free three under par in the first nine which included birdies at the fourth, fifth and ninth, made a double bogey at the 11^th, and a single bogey at the 16^th, but picked up birdies at the 12^th, 14^th and 15^th for his second 67. “ I only missed one fairway, and three putted the 11^th, otherwise my game was general fine. I am hitting the ball fairly well at the moment’’ said Ngige who beat long hitting Dismas Indiza from Mumias Golf Club by two shots. Indiza birdied the second, fifth, sixth, eighth and the ninth but also dropped shots at the first, fourth, seventh, bogeyed the 13^th, the same hole he holed in one in the first round, picked up a double bogey at the 16^th for one under par 69. “ I made several three putts which real coasted me the title. Its difficult to predict these greens’’ said Indiza who won the second leg at Royal Nairobi. Also shooting one under 69 was David Wakhu from Royal to finish third on 140. Wakhu birdied the fifth, sixth and eighth and the 11^th and 15^th against bogeys at the second, third, fourth and 10^th. Home pro David Odhiambo and Royal Nairobi’s Hardeep Thethy tied on 141. Odhiambo birdied three holes at the front nine and two at the back nine but also bogeyed the third and 12^th and 18^th  at the back nine.

The Leaderboard;

134 Simon Ngige 67, 67

136 Dismas Indiza 67, 69

140 David Wakhu 71, 69

141 David Odhiambo 73, 68

141 Hardeep Thethy 68, 73

141 Mathew Omondi 71, 70

143 Joseph Karanja 69, 74

144 Njuguna Ngugi 74, 70

145 Riz Charania 71, 74. nike air max cheap wholesale nike air max cheap wholesale