Greg Snow, prepares to putt during the Kenya Open at the Karen Golf and Country Club early this year.

By KENNETH KING

Muthaiga’s professional Greg Snow finished the first round of the Dubai Creek Open in a joint 11^th position after playing level par 71 at the par 71 Dubai Creek Golf and Yatch Club on Monday.

The tournament which is part of the Mena Tour will see participants rub shoulders in a 72-hole competition with a prize money of Sh4.4 million (50, 000 dollars).

Snow started off well, sinking back-to-back birdies on holes three and four , then sunk an eagle on hole 10 before picking more birdies on holes 15 and 17. He, however, had a double bogeys on holes six and seven and dropped a shots on holes nine and 11, to end the first day on level par 71.

“ The course is in fantastic condition and the greens are grainy and fast. It is playing pretty hard when the wind blows, I got to keep the ball below the hole,” said Snow.

He added: “ There are plenty of birdie opportunities out there it’s all about staying patient.”

Other Kenyans taking part in the competition are Royal Nairobi Club’s Hardeep Thethy who finished the first day on joint 36^th position after managing four over par 75 and Sigona’s Ganeev Giddie who was placed 98^th after playing 14 over par 85.

Snow was trailing overnight leader, Trevor Marshal from Canada by four strokes going into the second round. cheap air max mens cheap air max mens

Nyanza’s Noah Winja (left), the qualifier winner with Ezekiel Owuor of Pan Africa Life insurance during the grand finale at Muthaiga Golf Club.

By DONALD WELLINGTON

Nyanza’s Noah Winja and Vet Lab’s Mary Karano are the winners of the Pan Africa Life Golf Series Grand Finale.

Karano and Winja will now represent Kenya and Pan Africa Life at the Sanlam Cancer Challenge at the Sun City Golf Resort from the 21^st to 22^nd October 2013 where they will join other golfers in raising funds for the fight against cancer.

Mary Karano, a handicap-7 golfer and a former Kenya International was on top form carding a 4-over par gross total for 39-points. Karano’s round was clinical, exactly what you would expect from a golfer who has played top-drawer golf for over 20-years.

An easy 6-pars on each nine, a birdie on the par-4 17^th and five dropped shots over 18-holes secured the all expenses paid ticket for Karano. Speaking after her round, Karano said she was looking forward to the Sun City trip. “I thank Pan Africa Life for inviting me to participate at their Grand Finale, I promise to represent them well at the Sanlam Cancer Challenge in Sun City.”

Nyanza’s Noah Winja, a handicap-8 golfer, posted a score 38 points to claim his place on the all expenses paid trip to the Sanlam Cancer Challenge.

Winja who qualified for the Grand Finale from Nyanza Club said he was pleased with his round. “I have not been playing much golf, my campaign efforts in the Siaya County gubernatorial race were very taxing on time,” Winja said. “Luckily, I was a member of Muthaiga before moving to Nyanza and memories of this course served me well.”

Winja was lucky through the opening nine holes but he came alive on the back nine to produce an award winning performance, 9-pars in a row.

“I am still in shock, this is definitely a record for me and perhaps for Muthaiga,” he said. “It is not everyday that you string together nine pars over nine holes! I was very motivated and I wanted to join Pan Africa Life and Sanlam in their fight against Cancer.”

Congratulating the winners, Tom Gitogo, the Pan Africa Life CEO, said that Mary Karano and Noah Winja would join other golfers from South Africa at the Sanlam Cancer Challenge in October. “Our winners will be travelling to the Sun City Golf Resort where they will participate in the Sanlam Cancer Challenge, from the 21-22^nd October,” he said. “I trust that Karano and Winja will be good ambassadors for Pan Africa Life, a member of the Sanlam Group, and that they will be even better ambassadors for Kenya.”

Ezekiel Owuor, the Pan Africa Life National Sales Manager produced the round of his life to claim the staff prize with a hot 41 points. “I played well, it was one of my better rounds to date,” he said. “I congratulate the winners who will be travelling to the Sanlam Cancer Challenge in October and I thank all the golfers around the country who participated in the Pan Africa Life Golf Series and our Grand Finale.”

Patrick Mbuthia was the qualifier runner up with 36 points and Krishan Sarna was the qualifier third with 33 points. Phil Kinisu was the corporate runner up and Muchau Githiaka was third in the corporate division. Rose Koome claimed both the nearest to the pin and lady longest drive prizes. cheap air max cheap air max