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

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