STRATEGIST: Mambo Thieri lines his putt during the 13 leg of the Barclays Golf Circuit at Vet Lab Club on Saturday.

By CORRESPONDENT

Before Saturday, John D’Souza had never won any golf event in his 16 month old career, but he stunned everyone to beat a large field of 237 players and win the 13^th leg of the Barclays Golf Circuit at the par 72 Vet Lab Golf Club.

Playing off handicap 24, D’Souza who started playing golf 16 months ago carded an impressive 44 points to win the day long competition and lead a team of nine qualifiers to the circuit’s grand finale slated for February 22 at the Karen Golf and Country Club.

D’Souza registered four pars in the first nine for a score of 19 points in the front nine. In the second nine, he also managed four pars but for an impressive score of 25 points.

“I am so happy because this is the first time I have won a golf tournament since I started playing 16 months ago. In fact I got my handicap in September, it is a big step in my golf career and a sign of better things to come,” said.

He added: “I would like to attribute the win to my playing partners who really encouraged me after seeing my first nine performance and in the second nine I performed even better.”

Ian Maina playing off handicap 20 was the runner-up on 40 points and was closely by handicap 26 Dominic Ooko on 39 points.

Rosemary Otolo playing off handicap 27 had a round of her life time as she secured the ladies prize on a thrilling 44 points. She was followed by handicap 31 Joyce Murigi on 38 points.

G.K Okoth playing off handicap 28 emerged the guest winner on 39 points and was followed by handicap 7 Caleb Kositany on 35 points. Jeet Jopanputra playing off handicap 8 claimed the junior prize on 32 points, while Barclays Bank’s director of compliance in East and West Africa, Laban Omangi playing off handicap 20 emerged the staff winner on 34 points.

Moses Karanu won the men straightest to the pin prize, while Jane Wokabi won the ladies honours. The Men nearest to the pin prize went to Njani Ndiritu and Rosemary Kitololo registered the ladies nearest to the pin.

The team prize went to a team comprising of Joyce Murigi, Fernando Wangila, Cyrus Kanyi and Ian Maina for managed a collective score of 40 points.

Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, Barclays Bank’s Head of Internal Audit Ken Kamurasi thanked the participants for turning up in large numbers.

“This is a record number in our series. It’s the biggest filed, we have never witnessed 237 players at a single event and the participants deserve a pat on their backs,” said Kamurasi.

The overall winner during the grand finale will land a fully paid golfing tour on the expansive golf courses in South Africa, while the top 20 at the finale will get slots to play at this year’s Barclays Kenya Open Golf Pro Am.
“The pro-am is a dream for any amateur golfer where they get an opportunity to play with mainly top European professionals that grace the Barclays Kenya Open between March 6 and 9. Courtesy of Barclays hospitality, they will also get season tickets and VIP guest passes to the Barclays Hospitality tent at the Barclays Kenya Open,” Kamurasi said.
The next leg of the competition will be held at the Muthaiga Golf Club on February 8.

Vet Lab qualifiers: John D’Souza, Rosemary Kitololo, Ian Maina, Dominic Ooko, Robinson Owiti, Deepak Halai; Reserve-David Wahome.

Golf Park qualifiers: Godwin Karuga, Fernando Wangila, A. Kimani; Reserve-G. Mutulu. cheap nike air max 90 uk cheap nike air max 90 uk

Junior golfer Daniel Nduva (left) receives an award during the SOYA ceremony in December.

By DONALD WELLINGTON

On form junior golfer Daniel Nduva has been included in the six-man Kenyan amateur team for this year’s Kenya Open Golf Championships slated for Karen Golf and Country Club between March 5 and 9.

According to the list released by Kenya Golf Union (KGU) yesterday, the 18-year old long hitter was the surprise in the team and will mainly be the focus of attention when he makes his debut in the competition at such am early age.

Reigning Golfer Of The Year, Limuru’s John Karichu who also won the Kenya Strokeplay Championships will also be making a debut in the premier competition and also is Justus Madoya of Great Rift Valley Club by virtue of finishing fourth in the Goty series as well as Vet Lab’s Robinson Owiti who was third in the series.

The others, Vet Lab’s Nelson Simwa who won the Kenya Matchplay Championships and Golf Park’s Tony Omuli who was second in Goty series have had a go in the Open before.

While announcing the names yesterday, Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman Francis Okwara the Kenya Open competition which is part of the European Challenge Tour, would give the amateur players a great opportunity to showcase their golfing skills against the best in the world.

“The players were selected as per the KGU policy on qualifications. The policy states that the winner of strokeplay championship, winner of matchplay championship as well as the golfer of the
year gets an automatic slot to play in the Open. The others are picked as per GOTY Standings,” said Okwara.

He added: “Recently, the Union amended the policy to include the best junior according to the Order of Merit.”

The last time an amateur made the cut in the competition was in 2011 and it was Boniface Simwa, now a professional based in Eldoret.
The Kenya Open has been an event on the European based Challenge Tour schedule since 1991. It was founded in 1967, and has been held at Muthaiga Golf Club every year except 1968, 2004-2008, and 2013, when the tournament it was held at Karen Club.

TEAM: John Karichu (Limuru)- Winner GOTY 2013 and winner Kenya Strokeplay
championship; Nelson Simwa ( Vet Lab)- Winner, Kenya Matchplay Championship 2013; Tony Omuli (Golf Park) Runner up GOTY 2013; Robinson Owiti (Vet lab)- Third, GOTY 2013; Justus Madoya (GRV(- Fourth GOTY 2013; Daniel Nduva- Best junior player in 2013.

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