Anil Shah lines his putt at a recent tournament. He is currently enjoying a single shot lead after the first round of the PGK Masters event at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club.

By FIDEL ONO

Anil Shah today showed mastery of his home course to take an early lead on the first day of the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Masters tournament at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club.

Shah who finished fourth in the last event for the pros last week at the Windsor Golf and Country Club, posted four under par 68 to command the leader board after the first round.

He started well with birdies on the par five hole two, par four hole five and par five hole seven, before dropping a shot on the par three hole eight for a first nine score of 34.

In the second nine, Shah sunk back-to-back birdies on the par four holes 10 and 11, had a bogey on the par four 12^th hole, but recovered with another back-to-back birdies on the par five holes 14 and 15, before dropping another shot on the par four hole 18 for a score of 34.

Muthaiga’s Greg Snow settled for the second spot on three under par 69 after posting 34 in the first nine and 35 in the back nine.

Brian Njoroge of Vet Lab who won last week’s event at Windsor was third on two under par 70 (33, 37), while Golf Park’s David Opati who turned professional a year ago was fourth on one under par 71 (38, 33).

Nyanza’s David Odhiambo tied with Railway’s Njuguna Ngugi in the fifth position on level par 72. Odhiambo posted 37 in the first nine and 35 in the second nine, while Njuguna managed 34 in the first nine and 38 in the back nine.

The three rounds tournament has brought together 30 top local professionals who are battling it out for a Sh200, 000 prize money. nike air max ladies nike air max ladies

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