Vipingo Ridge’s Golf Course where the Mumias Golf Series action will be held on Saturday.

By CORRESPONDENT

Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort will this weekend play host to the Coast leg of the Natural Sweetness Golf series sponsored by Mumias Sugar Company with 12 places available for qualifiers.

Over 200 players are expected to tee up at the 36-hole golf resort as the hosts are joined by Mombasa Golf Club, Leisure Lodge and Nyali Golf and Country Club to select top amateurs who will compete with other qualifiers in the grand finale in November.

“It is a big honour for Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort to be hosting the Coastal golfing community in this important series. We are doing everything possible to make the event exciting and successful,” said Gail Conway, hospitality manager at the world class golf estate.

MSC Chief Executive, Peter Kebati, said the Coast leg is very important to the Natural Sweetness Golf Series and urged golfers to turn up in large numbers to enjoy the company’s hospitality.

“We have exciting arrangements for hospitality and have put together great prizes for the top performers at the weekend,” said Kebati.

The stroke-play 18-hole event   is open to all Confederation of Golf Unions (CONGU)-handicapped players in the following handicap categories: 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-25 and 26-36.  Two players qualify from each handicap category.

The series has already been to various clubs including 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.  Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Mumias Golf Club and Nyanza Golf Club will host over the next few weeks paving way for the grand finale at Limuru Country Club on November 2, 2012.

Director of Corporate Affairs and Marketing,   Pamela Lutta, said the series is part of the company’s efforts to “…share the   Natural Sweetness with more people by involving over 30 clubs across the country”.

Lutta said Mumias has been involved in golf sponsorships over the last 12 years in a bid to support and contribute to the growth of the game countrywide and are the sole sponsor of one of the country’s top professionals, Dismas Indiza, who hones his skills at Mumias Club.

The series which began in March brings together 34 different clubs with more than one club taking part in some of the tournaments.

“So far the series has gone well thanks to the Kenya Golf Union and various clubs who have made this possible,” said Lutta.

The series continue with events in   Mumias (September 15), Royal Nairobi Golf Club (September 22) and Nyanza Golf Club (October 13) before the grand finale on    November 2, 2012. nike air max nike air max

FEATED: Alan Dodd, NIC Bank Executive Director, Corporate Banking (left) with NIC Bank golf day, Sigona, winner Steve Hawkins.

By CORRESPONDENT

Handicap 26 golfer, Steve Hawkins is the winner of the NIC Bank Golf Day held at the Sigona Golf Club over the weekend. Hawkins, returned a massive 44 points to beat over 200 other participants who took to the course at Sigona.

The Champion begun his round on a shaky note, failing to score on the opening hole, the tricky dog-leg left par-four. He had better luck on the equally challenging second hole where he posted a bogey after missing the fairway off the tee.

Hawkins made his first par on the long and difficult par-four sixth and followed this up with an even more impressive par on thedog-leg left par-four seventh, the most difficult hole at Sigona. Commenting on his performance, Hawkins said he was pleased to have won.

“The two pars on the sixth and seventh really got me going, those are fairly tough holes and most golfers are happy to make bogey on those two holes,” Hawkins said. “I made a few other strong pars on the par-five 10^th, the par-three 11^th and the par-three 14^th, once more giving me the boost I needed to finish strong.”

Congratulating the Champion, NIC Bank Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Alan Dodd commended Sigona Golf Club for putting together a great event. “On behalf of NIC Bank I would like to congratulate the winner, Steve Hawkins and all those who participated in our event at Sigona; this was a record attendance and we appreciate it,” Dodd said. “I would also like to commend the management at Sigona for presenting this golf course in such immaculate condition, well done.”

Mela Dhanjal, a handicap-9 golfer, played the golf of his life, posting a 2-over par gross score for a total of 43 points to finish in second place. Dhanjal begun his round with three consecutive bogeys at thatpoint it must have seemed to be al gloom. However, Dhanjal found his rhythm to put together three pars throught to the par-four seventh hole, where he made a rare birdie. He followed his with two more pars before faltering on the scenic par-five 10^th. Another birdie followed on the par-three 11^th and another on the par-four 13^th.

Raju Amber Patel finished in third place with 42 points, beating Kimemia Mwangi on count-back whilst Rajiv Shah finished in fifth place with 41 points. The guest winner was Mary Karano on 41 points. The handicap-8 Karano, one of the most decorated lady golfers in East Africa was on song, firing five birdies over her round. The nines went to Sarju Shah with 22 points and Ramesh Patel with 23 points.

Kush Gadhia claimed the longest drive for men whilst Zipporah Wachira won the longest drive for ladies. The nearest to the pin prize went to Jay Dhanani. NIC Bank Head of Card, Michael Kinuthia was the staff winner with a commendable 32 points. charme pandora charme pandora