NO LAUGHING MATTER: Golf Park’s David Opati posses with the winner’s prize at a past tournament. He is among the favourites at this weekend’s Karen Challenge, which is part of the GOTY Series.

By DISMAS ONYANGO

Series leader David Opati will be the player to watch as the 13^th round of Golfer of the Year (GOTY) show, dubbed Karen Challenge, takes place at Karen Golf and Country Club on September 8-9, 2012.

Opati of Golf Park Golf Club has maintained the top position for better part of the season and he currently leads the table standings with 69.35 points off 10 events he has participated in.

The Karen Challenge, sponsored by Keringet Mineral Water, is expected to be very competitive as golfers are eager to cut Opati’s lead and if possible topple him from the leadership.

Opati tees off at 12:58pm alongside R Njoroge and D Ongeri during the two day event.

His main challengers are Kabete Open winner Nelson Simwa of Vet Lab who is placed second on 54.50, teammate Joseph Karanja of Golf Park who has accumulated 53.10 and plus handicap one CJ Wanjui of  Kenya Railway Golf Club.

Simwa is the first ever home player to claim GOTY round following his victory in Kabete Open and he hopes to maintain the form and bag valuable points at Karen.

Nelson Simwa entered historic books as the first ever home player to win Golfer of the Year (GOTY) round after he clinched Kabete Open on 221 gross at Vet Lab Golf Club last month.

Simwa open campaign takes to the par 72 course at 1.33pm together with J Karichu and W Odera

Karen Challenge, the biggest event in town this weekend, is one of the series of events sponsored by Keringet Mineral Water and organized by Kenya Golf Union.

The last five events are: Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championships (October 20^th), Manchester Salver (November 3-4), Uhuru Shield (November 30 to December 1) and Nyali Open (December 15-16). canada goose homme canada goose homme

Some of the players who took part in the Mumias Sugar Series’ Coast leg in action at one of the greens at the 18-hole Vipingo Ridge Golf Club.

By JAMES WAINDI

The Coast leg of the Mumias Sugar-sponsored Natural Sweetness Golf Series wound up in fantastic style at Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort on Saturday with 10 players qualifying for the finals.

Nyali Golf and Country Club’s Tawfiq Balala, playing off handicap nine,   led the list after playing six over 41 in the front nine followed by four over 40 in the back nine, including a birdie at the par three 17th for 81 gross and 72 nett, to beat Leisure Lodge’s Ronald Omariba (76nett) to second spot in the handicap category 6-10.  There was no winner in the handicap category 0-5 as there were no players in this category.

Stephen Wetzel (Leisure Lodge), 74 nett, beat Mombasa Golf Club’s Jabone Mbugwa, 76 nett, among players with handicaps11-15 while Vipingo Ridge’s Adriana Piccanotti, 75 nett and  Nyali’s Dave Mwangi, 76 nett, qualified in the handicap bands 16-20.  Among players with handicaps between 21 and 25 George Gathuri of Leisure Lodge  came up tops with 72 nett with Sue Williamson of Vipingo Ridge  in second position with 78 nett.

Lyn Owino of Nyali played a commendable 75 nett to win the handicap category 26-36 ahead of Peter Gathuri of Leisure Lodge (76 nett). The top two players in each category qualify for the finals to be held at Limuru Country Club on November 2, 2012.

There were winners in non-qualifying guest and staff categories. Jane Bosse  (72 nett) beat  Humphrey Maina (73 nett) to take the guest prize while Dorothy Rebere (72 nett) was the staff winner ahead of Hezron Wafula (77 nett).

“The course was magnificent and the greens  superb but the high humidity and occasional cross-winds made it difficult for some of us to post great scores,” commented Mumias Sugar Chief Executive,”  Peter Kebati.

Over 120 players turned up at the challenging Baobab Course of the Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort for the Coast qualifiers representing the host club, Mombasa Golf Club, Leisure Lodge and Nyali Golf and Country Club.    The next event will be at Mumias Golf Club on September 15, 2012.

The series is played over 14 legs involving 34 clubs and has already been held at Kenya Railways Golf Club, Karen Country Club, Thika Sports Club, Limuru Country Club, Sigona Golf Club, Muthaiga Golf Club,    Nakuru Golf Club, Kiambu Golf Club and Vetlab Sports Club. sac michael kors outlet sac michael kors outlet