ABUNDANT EXPERIENCE: Robinson Owiti follows his tee shot during last years Karen Challenge event.

By JAMES WAINDI
This year’s Windsor Classic and Trans Nzoia Open champion Robinson Owiti has finally earned a call-up to the national golf team set to represent the county at next month’s East Africa Golf Challenge and Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship (AAGTC).
The Vet Lab player protested the manner in which Kenya Golf Union (KGU) selected the national for the Africa Zone VI champions in Namibia in April where he was overlooked despite the fact that he was third in the Golf Of The Year (GOTY) standings at that time.
Owiti is still third on the log at the moment and his return to the team is likely to bring experience and balance ahead of the two crucial tournaments.
He was part of a 13-man team released by KGU yesterday. The team which is expected to start training on Monday also include five top  junior players from different clubs.
The team’s first assignment will be the continental event slated for Royal Swazi Spa Country Club in Swaziland between October 18 and 24, then a week later they will be defending their regional title at the Great Rift Valley Lodge between October 28 and November 1.
While releasing the names the KGU chairman Frank Okwara said the AAGTC will be comprised of three senior members from GOTY standings while one will be a junior from the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) Order of Merit.
For the East Africa Challenge event Okwara noted that the team will comprise of five senior players from the GOTY standings and four juniors from JGF Order of Merit. He said that the selected squad was made up of strong players and exuded confidence that the ultimate team was capable of raising the national flag high in both the events.
The AAGTC event remains one of the most prestigious golf competitions in Africa. It is held bi-annually and is played using the Eisenhower format and is a 72 hole stroke play played over three days. Each country is represented by a team of four players. The team score is obtained by adding the best three of the four gross scores. The trophy is awarded to the team with the lowest aggregate score. The last event was held in South Africa and Kenya will be hosting the next event in 2015.
The East Africa Golf Challenge is, however, a golf tournament involving members of East Africa Golf Federation. It was first played in 1999 in Kenya and last year it was played ion Burundi and Kenya won the event. 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.
TEAM:
1. John Karichu-Limuru
2. Tony Omuli- Golf Park
3. Robinson Owiti- Vet Lab
4. Justas Madoya- GRV
5. Elijah Odera Amukowa- Kericho
6. Alfred Nandwa- Railway
7. Nelson Simwa- Vet Lab
8. Steve Karanja- Kiambu
9. Daniel Nduva(Junior)- Nyali
10. Tahir Mohamed(Junior)- Nyali
11. Mathew Wahome(Junior)- Nyali
12. Adel Balala (Junior)- Nyali
13. Kush Mediratta(Junior)- Sigona

Courtesy of The People Daily nike air max cheap uk mens nike air max cheap uk mens

Veronica Nduva reacts after putting during the fourth leg of the Barclays Golf Circuit held at the Machakos Golf Club on Saturday. She was the ladies runner-up.

By CORRESPONDENT

Dionedes Thiuri beat a field of 135 players to emerge the men winner during the fourth leg of the ongoing Barclays Golf Circuit at the par 72 Machakos Golf Club on Saturday.

Thiuri playing off handicap 28 posted an impressive 44 stableford points made up of an identical score of 22 stableford in both nines to rule the roost.

“I am very happy for this win. The course was in a great condition today and my swing was great,” said Thiuri.

He added: “This is the second event I have won in my golf career and apparently the first time I won, I played with Ben Okello whom I also played with today and I scored the same points.”

Fred Kilonzi playing off handicap 10 finished as the men runner-up on 39 points, while handicap 20 Wambua Mila was third on 38 points after beating Collins Kaloki and James Dunda on a back-to-back countback. Kaloki playing off handicap 12 was fourth, while handicap 7 Dunda was fifth.

Machakos lady captain Jeniffer Ngureplaying off handicap 18 was in a class of her own as she posted 41 points to win the ladies prize. Handicap 32 Veronica Nduva settled for the ladies runner-up prize on 32 points.

The guest prize went to handicap 6 A. Matheka on a score of 35 points, with handicap 36 Ziporrah Aza as the runner-up on 31 points, while Royal’s Mutinda Mutuku had the men’s straightest drive and Ben Mumo won the nearest to the pin prize.

Barclays Consumer Banking director Zahid Mustapha playing off handicap 24 was the staffs winner on 33 points and veteran golf reporter Larry Ngala playing off handicap 22 emerged the media winner on 31 points.

“Personally I have been impressed by the hospitality at Machakos and I am satisfied that we made the right choice to Machakos as one of the venues for this year’s Barclays Golf Circuit,” said Mustafa.

He added: “The Barclays Golf Circuit is a tournament that we hold dear as Barclays, not only because of the brand association but also the role that this tournament has played in nurturing golf talent in the country. This was evident from the exemplary performance of last editions Barclays circuit finalists during the premier Barclays Kenya Open tournament.”

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,” Mustafa said.

From Machakos, the circuit moves to Nyanza Golf Club on September 28 where members of Nyanza, Kericho, Kakamega and Mumias will be brought together.

Machakos qualifiers: Jennifer Ngure, Fred Kilonzi, Wambua Mila, Collins Kaloki, James Ndunda, Victor Mutwii. Reserve: Sam Kona.

Kenya Air Force qualifiers: S. Wafula, Dr Gatuma and B. Orwako. pandora charms cheap pandora charms cheap