Ag. Managing Director, KCB Investment Bank, Linus Kang’ara tees off during the
KCB East Africa Golf Tour held in Thika Golf Club.

By AMANDA DAMARIS AND DANELLA APIYO

The 8^th leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour will be held at the par 72 Nyeri Golf Club this coming weekend.

The much-anticipated tournament is expected to bring together over 100 golfers from different golf clubs in the country. Like the previous legs, the top two teams will book a slot in the Pro-Am grand finale slated for November in Nairobi.

So far, the KCB golf series has traversed Kakamega, Kisumu, Nairobi, and Kiambu counties reaching over 1, 000 participants and over 500 participants through the ladies’ and juniors’ clinics.

KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said: “The KCB Golf series heads to the second oldest golf course in the country this weekend with an aim of reaching more people to improve the sport and to also offer our customers an opportunity to interact and network with various business people away from the normal office setting. As a brand, we are also proud to be associated with the development of this sport right from the grassroot level, this is why through the series we are traversing many counties within Kenya.”

A week ago, Samuel Njunu, Linda Kinyua, Julius Wanyaga, and Susan Irungu displayed unparalleled golfing prowess to return a combined score of 139 points to emerge the winners of the 7^th leg of KCB Golf series in Thika.

“We are excited to be part of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour, we promise to host a very successful tournament and it is our hope that many golfers will register for this competitive tournament. Nyeri offers a conducive environment for a golf outing and the balmy weather makes golfers enjoy the fairways as much as they can. We look forward to an action-packed weekend,” noted Jacob Nyaga, Nyeri Golf Club Captain.

The weekend action will be preceded by a customer engagement dinner on Friday evening before the juniors’ and Ladies’ golf clinics on Sunday afternoon.

After the Nyeri edition, action will resume on August 5^th for the tour’s 9^th leg in Nakuru County.

Edward Keter and Bill Kalya with KGU Executive Ndiga Kithae.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Bill Kalya and Edward Keter of Kericho Golf Club played a combined score of 47 stableford points to emerge the overall champions of the International Pairs qualifying event held at Muthaiga Golf Club at the weekend. Kalya playing off handicap 10 and Keter handicap 19 showed a concerted effort as they both made equal contributions to the overall team score.  Kalya capitalized on the Par 3s getting at least 2 points in 4 out of the 5 holes and an eagle on par 5 no. 7 secured 4 points for the duo. Keter on the other hand came to the rescue on the longer holes and maximized on the 19 handicap strokes getting the much needed 3 points in 3 holes and 4 points in the par 4 no. 8.

The home-players, Josiah Mwaniki and Patrick Mbagaya finished as runner ups with 44 points after beating Erick Mutai & Julius Rono, Fredrick Wagura & Rebecca Njui and James Kamenchu & George Mburu on countback. Mutai and Rono are seeking another ticket to Portugal having being part of the 4 pairs that travelled to La Cala Hotel & Golf Resort, Spain on 14-18 November 2022 for the 2022 World Finals. This year’s finals will be held at the Royal Obidos Spa & Golf Resort and Bom Sucesso Resort, Portugal between 6^th-10^th November 2023.

The Kenya Golf Union Executive, Ndiga Kithae, speaking on behalf of the KGU Chairman-Philip Ochola, appreciated Muthaiga Golf Club for hosting the tournament and informed the members of the value gained in the participating in the series. “Portugal has more than 30 golf estates and this opportunity presents a chance to our players to experience and learn from the country.” Ndiga further urged the members preset to introduce friends and juniors to golf and to continue supporting the initiatives of the union.

The 5 pairs all got tickets to the Kenya Grand Finale to be held on 1^st September 2023. The top 3 pairs in the Grand Finale qualify for the fully funded golf trip to Portugal.  The event at Muthaiga is the first of 7 club qualifying events that will be held in different regions of the country. The second event will be held on 15^th July 2023 at Nyahururu Sports Club followed by 22^nd July 2023 at Kericho Golf Club. Mixed pairs are allowed in the competition where the best stableford points calculated off 85% handicap allowance are picked for the team per hole and summed up to arrive at the team score. All golfers who are 18 years and above and have a valid WHS handicap index are eligible to play.

Kenya has participated in the International Pairs in the years 2019, 2021 and 2022 with a break in 2020 due to the Corona Pandemic. Since the start of the series in 2019, 7 pairs have participated in the fully paid trip to the World Grand Finale. Mike Karanga & Steve Kiaro, James Kamenchu & Anthony Murage and Bhamra Bilu & Romy Sandhu participated in the finals in 2019 at Penina Golf Resort, Portugal. In 2022, Saawan Shah & Jay Varia, Chand Shah & Kush Shah, Julius Rono & Eric Mutai and Steve Kiaro & David Gitao participated in the finals at La Cala Golf Resort, Spain. The pair of Chand Shah & Kush Shah finished as runner ups in the World Finals just one point from the winners from Namibia-Johannes Damon and Hylton Villet.