COMPARING NOTES: John Kamunyori and Mary Kibuga counter check their score cards during the Barclays Golf Circuit held at the Royal Golf Club at the weekend.
Photo By FIDEL ONO.

By FIDEL ONO (Writer)

Home player Ken Otieno emerged the winner of the Barclays Golf Circuit challenge held at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Club on Saturday.

Otieno playing off handicap 23, braved a strong challenge to beat a large field of 215 players to claim the top prize on 42 points made up of 20 stableford points in the first nine and 22 points in the second nine and emerge the overall winner of the day.

Morris Kihunyu playing off handicap 17 secured the second position, posting total of 42 points (22, 20). Kihunyu was beaten by Otieno on count back but beat Lady Ikumu Kobayashi on count back to settle for the second winner’s prize.

Lady Kobayashi was however contented with her win of third position. She was elated to emerge the top lady in the most competitive challenge of the series. Kobayashi also emerged the top winner for the first nine’s prize after she posted an impressive 23 points. The second nine’s prize went to handicap 7 Hanen Patel who posted 24 points. Patel also scooped the fourth position scoring 41 stableford points beating Malonza Kasamu on count back.

The highlight of the tournament however, was when handicap 26 Njungu Kungu, a 12 year old scored remarkable 41 points. Kungu grabbed the junior winner’s prize posting 20 points in the first nine and 21 points in the second nine.

Handicap 12 Pius Angasa of Muthaiga took home the guest winner prize on 34 points (16, 18) while Charles Mboga playing off handicap 23 emerged as the staff winner on 36 points (18,18).

Quaram Bhatti won the men’s longest drive, ladies longest prize went to Sophie Njenga, while John Nyori scooped the nearest to pin prize.

Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, Barclays Bank of Kenya Chief Finance Officer Yusuf Omari said: “The series has been a success and we have been receiving positive feedback from the players for the seven rounds covered so far. We hope the remaining six rounds will be even better and bigger”.

Mr. Omari added that the series seeks to provide opportunities for amateur golfers to develop their golfing skills. He noted that Barclays Kenya is keen to promote the golfing sport in the country through its continued support of the game.

Mr. Omari concluded by thanking the players, and the participating clubs for their contribution of raising financial resources in support of charitable organizations that drive financial literacy, enterprise skills and life skills which are key pillars to the Bank’s Corporate Social Investment strategy.

The series will offer top 20 winners at the finale slots to play in the Barclays Kenya Open Pro Am 2013 and exclusive VIP tickets   during the Kenya Open.

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BEST AMATEUR: David Opati poses with the golfer of the year trophy after being crowned the winner of Nyali Open yesterday. Photo by JAMES WAINDI.

By JAMES WAINDI (Chief Editor)

Golf Park’s David Opati was on Sunday crowned the 2012 golfer of the year in style with a win at the season ending Nyali Open Golf Championship at the par 71 Nyali Club.

Opati playing off handicap +3 posted a total score of one over par 214 gross to emerge the overall winner of the 54-hole competition. He started off the first round on Saturday morning on a one under par 70 gross, and played an identical one over par 72 gross in the last two rounds to claim the trophy.

With the win, Opati bagged 12 points towards the GOTY rankings to end the series on 114.10 points. Vet Lab’s Nelson Simwa who at one point threatened to challenge Opati for the GOTY title, finished a distance second on 78.25 points.

“I have no words to express my joy, especially having won this year’s Coast Open and now the Nyali Open, a tournament I had never won in my golfing career,” said Opati who is also the national golf team captain.

Home player and international Daniel Nduva playing off handicap three was the tournament’s gross runner  up on a round total of 221 (72, 71, 78) and E. Ooko was third on a score of 224 gross.

Having been declared as the 2012 Best Golfer in the country, Opati has now secured an automatic ticket to participate in the Kenya Open Championship to be held on 13^th to 17^th February 2013 at Karen Golf and Country Club.

During the prize giving ceremony held at Nyali Golf and Country club on Sunday, the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Chairman Alfred Kariuki congratulated the winners and thanked Keringet for sponsoring the KGU GOTY events 2012.

The Chairman also thanked Nyali International Beach Hotel for sponsoring Nyali Open. He lauded all golfers who have participated in GOTY events and also reiterated the commitment of the Union in developing the game of golf through junior golf development.

During the ceremony, the KGU Chairman also announced that the Union will be adopting new system of awarding points in order to motivate players to participate in large numbers during GOTY events.

The 2013 GOTY season starts with Sigona Bowl on 18^th and 19^th January 2013. maillot de foot pas cher maillot de foot pas cher