A sign post showing the direction of Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort, the venue of the regional tournament.

By DONALD WELLINGTON

The wait is finally over as the Kenyan players take to the course tomorrow to defend the East Africa Golf Challenge Cup at the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort in Naivasha where they will be against five other countries.

Tomorrow’s first round will see players take each other in a singles competition in the morning. All the countries namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia being represented by teams of eight players had all registered with the East Africa Golf Confederation by Monday evening ready for the high profile championship, following the official opening ceremony by retired President Mwai Kibaki who is the also the patron of the Kenya Golf Union (KGU).

The afternoon function was, however, delayed for an hour due to un expected rain. All the teams including new-comers Ethiopia are fielding strong teams though being at home Kenya who are also the defending champions starts as the hot favourite to claim the cup.

The home team is made-up of five juniors namely Daniel Nduva, Mathew Wahome, Adel Balala and Tahir Mohamed.

The seniors in the home line-up include three of the players who formed Kenya’s team for the just concluded All Africa Amateur Team Championship in Swaziland namely John Karichu, Tony Omuli, and Robinson Owiti, who were joined in return by Justus Madoya of the Great Rift Valley, and William Odera of Kericho.

Team coach Anil Shah who is being assisted by the Great Rift Valley Resort professional Ajay Shah said the players had trained on Sunday, Monday and yesterday and that they were set for the event.

“We have gone through all the formats and I believe we have the strongest side in this year’s tournament though this is a matchplay event and it is more or less an individual ability’’ said Shah. He said the course was playing well though it required one to keep the ball straight in order to win a match, adding that teams from Uganda and Tanzania were equally strong having brought players most of whom were in the same tournament in Burundi last year.

“Our players did well in the just concluded All Africa Championship most of who are well known here in Kenya as they have featured in the many of the local events’’ said Uganda’s Coach Deo Akope. Among his top players include Willy Kitata who lost to Nelson Simwa in the Kenya Amateur Matchplay Championship, Adolf Muhumuza who was eighth in the individual title during the All Africa in Swaziland, Philip Kasozi, and youngster Daniel Baguma.

The stars in the Tanzania line-up are Nuru Mollel, John Saidi, Victor Joseph, John Leonce, and Abass Saidi. Team coach Olais Michael Mollel said his players were starving for the cup.

“ This cup has eluded us for a number of years now, but this time we have a strong team and we are going for nothing short of the title’’ said Mollel. The four-day championship which marks its 15^thyear is being sponsored by Keroche Industries supported by Mumias Sugar among others. The first round draw was due to be done soon after the official opening ceremony. pandora charms uk pandora charms uk

Sigona Golf Club captain Gakuo Ndirangu follows his tee shot during the 7th leg of the Barclays Golf Circuit on Saturday.

By CORRESPONDENT

HOME player Naveed Nanji beat a large field of 209 players to emerge the winner of the seventh leg of the ongoing Barclays Golf Circuit at the par 72 Sigona Golf Club on Saturday.

Nanji posted 19 stableford points in the first nine and 20 points in the back nine for a total of 39 points to lead a team of six qualifiers for the circuit’s grand finale slated for Karen Golf and Country Club in February.

“I had a good game today. I started off well, my swing was great and my putting never disappointed, I was always on the course. My four ball was also great, they were a good company and made me play well, I can’t wait to play at the finale,” said Nanji.

G. G. Nganga lost to Nanji on countback to settle for the runner-up position on 39 points (20, 19) and Jeff Macharia was third on 38 points.

Safina Madhni needed a second nine score of 20 stableford points to be Rachna Patel on countback and be crowned the lady winner in the daylong event.

Madhni posted 38 points (18, 20), while Patel amassed 38 points (19, 19).

In the staff category, Sam Munyua ended Zahid Mustapha’s dominance to win on 38 points. Zahid who the director of Barclays Consumer Banking has been winning the staff prize at all the competitions he takes part in but this time found his match.

Sandip Matharu was the junior winner on an impressive 39 points, while G. Kokoth was the guest winner on 34 points.

Muraguri Muraya also spiced up the event by sinking a hole-in-one on the par three 12^th hole.

A Chandaria had the men’s straightest drive, while Jaini Shah had the lady’s straightest drive. C. Muraguri won the men nearest to pin prize and C. Onyimbo won the lady’s nearest to pin prize.

Speaking during the prize giving, Laban Omangi, Barclays Bank’s Head of Compliance East Africa lauded the players’ turnout at the event.

“The turnout was very impressive; having 209 players at your event is a great privilege. We are also using this circuit to promote the platinum card which has a lot of benefits,” said Omangi.

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 next 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. Courtesy of Barclays hospitality, they will also get season tickets and VIP guest passes to the Barclays Hospitality tent at the Barclays Kenya Open,” Omangi said.

The next leg of the competition will be held at Nyali Golf and Country Club on November 9 where members of Nyali, Mombasa, Watamu Bay, Leisure Lodge, Malindi and Vipingo Ridge will be brought together.

Sigona qualifiers: Hitesh Pindolia, Naveed Nanji, G. G. Nganga, Safina Madhni, Rachna Patel, Sandip Matharu. Reserve: Jeff Macharia.

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