WELL OUT: Kellie Gachanga, comes out of the bunker during the Barclays Bank Golf Circuit’s Grand Finale at the Karen Golf and Country Club.

By CORRESPONDENT

Sigona’s T. A. Khan posted 40 stableford points to be crowned the Barclays Golf Circuit champion during the event’s Grand Finale held at the Karen Golf and Country Club at the weekend.

Khan playing off handicap 19 also led his Sigona team to victory in the day long tournament that brought together a large field of 164 qualifiers.

He had three pars in the first nine, the first one on the par five third hole, the played two back-to-back pars on the par three seventh and par four eighth hole for a first nine score of 20 points. In the second nine, Khan sunk a birdie on the par four 12^th hole and pared par four 13^th and par five 15^th holes for a similar 20 points in the back nine.

The top 20 players at the grand finale earned tickets to play in the upcoming 2013 Barclays Kenya Open Pro Am tournament on February 13 at the same venue where they will rub shoulders with top professionals from the European tour. Courtesy of Barclays Hospitality, they will also get season tickets and VIP guest passes to the Barclays Hospitality Tent at the Barclays Kenya Open.

The best 20 include overall winner Khan, Haren Patel, Sahen Shah, Anil Lalla, George Njoroge, Atish Malde, E. Mwangi, Sam Muraya, S. Muriu, Divyanga Amin, Eric Kabuthia, Joyce Wanjiru, K. Thimba, Simon Mbugua, J. Jaffer, Paul Kaguamba, Rufus Gichuki, PP. Nathwani, C.Chumo, and Karaya Karuga.

Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, Khan said: “I am excited with my win today. The tournament was great and I want to thank Barclays Bank for sponsoring the series because I have earned a chance to play in the upcoming Barclays Kenya Open Pro Am in the process.”

He added: “The Karen course is tough but I am happy that I kept my balls on the fairway at all times and victory was the outcome.”

Haren Patel playing off handicap 6, finished as the runner-up on 39 points, while handicap 12 Sahen Shah who also scored 39 points but lost on count back, was third.

Barclays Bank of Kenya Director of Compliance Laban Omangi said: “We at Barclays Bank of Kenya are ecstatic that the series has been well received. We were able to cover the whole country attracting over 2,400 amateur golfers. We are committed to support and develop the sport not only in Kenya but across the East Africa region.”

Handicap 28 Gordon Odundo was the guest winner on 38points, while Kenya Open Golf Limited Chairman Peter Kanyago scooped the guest runner’s up prize on 35 points.

The Circuit raised Sh700, 000 that will be allocated to charitable organization that promote social- economic empowerment and development through enterprise skills, financial literacy and life skills. bracelet pandora bracelet pandora

Tusker Malt Cheque Handover

By CORRESPONDENT

Kenya Breweries Ltd have announced a Sh4.5m sponsorship for the 2013 Kenya Open Golf Championship. Speaking at the sponsorship presentation ceremony, KBL Managing Director, Joe Muganda, said that KBL had enjoyed a long relationship with the Kenya Open since its inception in 1991.

“KBL has been part of the Kenya Open Golf Championship since 1991, becoming title sponsors between 1998 and 2001 and again between 2005 to 2009,” he said. “This year, KBL, through our finest quality Malt Beer, Tusker Malt Lager, returns to the Kenya Open as the official alcoholic beverage partner and a Gold Category Sponsor to the tune of Sh4.5million”.

Commenting on the involvement of Tusker Malt Lager in golf, Muganda said the brand had been involved in golf for many years. “Among the golfing community, the Tusker Malt Lager brand is well known for the Tusker Malt Golf Series which continues to richly engage with golfers across the country,” he added.

“Tusker Malt embodies the spirit of the game of golf; it is brewed for longer than other contemporary lagers giving it that unmistakably rich, smooth premium taste that is widely recognised and that consumers have grown to love”. Recently KBL introduced the Tusker Malt Lager 100 Club, a community that shares passion for the same brand of malt beer and who look for opportunities to interact and share through a network that taps into Africa’s richness and diversity. “The game of golf shares in the characteristics of Tusker Malt Lager – both being premium and accessible brands.

Muganda thanked the Kenya Open Golf Ltd and the Kenya Golf Union for continuously and successfully staging the Kenya Open Golf Championship. “The KOGL and the KGU have done a great job managing this prestigious championship and as an organisation, we are grateful for the opportunity we have to be part of the sponsorship team,” he added. “To the Kenyan golf professionals and amateurs who will participate this year, we wish you all the best; Kenyan golf fans are waiting for a local champion. To the visiting professionals and officials, welcome to Kenya home of the world renown Tusker brands.” officielsacsmichael officielsacsmichael