SWING: John Waigwa follows his tee shot at a past Dasani Golf Gala qualifier. Scores got better at this year's second qualifier held at Thika Club on Saturday.

By JAMES WAINDI
The third edition of the Dasani Golf Gala continued registering high scores to maintain the tempo as this year’s competition entered its second qualifier at the par 72 Thika Sports Club on Saturday.
During the opening qualifier held at Kiambu Golf Club last weekend, 38 points was the best score, but it met its match this time as three players managed better scores.
This time, home player Dr Joseph Karanja posted 39 points, one of the best score in the competition so far, to anchor his side to the top spot with a combine total score of 111 points. Karanja playing off handicap 10 posted 20 points in the front nine before picking 19 in the back nine for a total of 39 points.
Andrew Muriuki playing off handicap 24 contributed to the winning team with an impressive score of 38 points made of identical 19 points on both nines, while handicap 12 Patrick Karanja posted 34 points (17, 17). Andrew Kimani playing off handicap 7 was the team’s weakest link as he could only manage 33 points (15, 18).
Handicap four Edwin Kiarie also enjoying his home course actually amassed the best score of the competition so far, scoring 40 points made up of identical 20 points in each nine to help his team to second position on a total score of 109 points.
John Komo playing off handicap five posted the team’s second best score, managing 35 points (19, 35), while handicap 13 Njuguna Kahoya had 34 points (15, 19). Jimmy Mbugua playing off handicap 23 was the team’s weakest as he could only manage a score of 28 points (14, 14) and one would tend to believe that had he played slightly better, the team could have been the best in the competition, but at least his score was better than Simon Mukiri’s score of 20 points which meant that Mukiri’s team was relegated to a reserve team despite the fact that his team scored a similar total of 109 points.
The top two teams in the Thika round earned an automatic qualifier to the Grand Finale of the 2012 Dasani Golf Gala slated for Karen Golf and Country Club on September 29.
The reserve team will be made up of handicap 17 player John Ngugi who also posted 40 points, handicap 18 Joseph Gachomba who collected 38 points and Michael Gitoyi , a handicap 19 player who scored 31 points.
The Gala started in Kiambu last weekend and after Thika it will be heading to Vet Lab on Saturday. The grand prize this year will see the winning team of four players travel to Dubai to attend the Grand Finale of the European Tour, the DP World Tour Championships at the Jumeirah Golf Estates. While in Dubai, they will also have the opportunity to see Europe’s top 60 money earners on the 2012 Order of Merit battle it out for a 1.3 million winner’s cheque.
“In addition, they will play at some of the best golf courses in the region, including the Dubai Creek Course and the challenging Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club, a course designed by former world number 1 and six-time major Champion Sir Nick Faldo,” said Nairobi Bottler’s Finance Manager Cyrus Gitau who presided over the prize giving.
Purity Muthoni playing off handicap 32 won the guest prize on 32 points while handicap 24 Brian Omondi was the junior winner on 35 points and Anthony Mwaura had the men longest drive prize. Njeri Mureithi won the longest drive women and D. N. Wainaina had the nearest to the pin.

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FINAL TOUCHES: National team player Naomi Wafula (second right) poses with her team during last year's Nancy Miller tournament. She will use Saturday's Royal Ladies Open as her final preparations before she travels to Botswana to represent the country at the All Africa Challenge Trophy.

By JAMES WAINDI

National ladies golf team players Jane Njoroge of Muthaiga and youngster Naomi Wafula of Golf Park are expected to sharpen their skills at Royal Ladies Open on Saturday, less than 24 hours before they live the country for the All Africa Challenge Trophy in Botswana.

The duo will be leaving the country on Sunday to try and retain the continental title which they won last year in Zambia and they at least one last chance to polish their golf, thanks to the Dasani-sponsored Royal Ladies Open.

Njoroge currently plays off handicap 6, while 14-years old Wafula plays off handicap five. The other member of the team is United Kingdom based Bavi Shah who will be linking up with the team in Botswana.

The Ladies Open is part of the ladies’ golfer of the year tournament series and the format of play is medal. The daylong event has attracted a strong field of 82 lady golfers who will battling it out for the GOTY points as well as a number of lucrative prizes at stake.

Vet Lab’s and former lady golfer of the year Mary Karano will also be keen to defend her title and maintain her dominance in the competition as she has won the last two Open’s in a row.

Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) chairperson Ann Chubi will be teeing off at 8.24 am in the company of Wanjira Kireri and S.Bhavra, while home captain Sarah Hoare will be teeing off at 8.40am in the company of Agnes Nyakio and Eunice Manyara and Naomi Wafula will be in the same group as Gathigia Gatere and S.Scroggie to tee off at 8.48 am.

Jane Njoroge will set off at 8.56 am in the company of National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) treasurer Fridah Shiroya and Anne Bett and reigning champion Karano will be teeing off at 9.12am together with Joyce Wafula and A. Vellekoop.

Meanwhile, the Dasani Golf Gala will be continuing this weekend at the Thika Sports Club with its second qualifier of the season where a total of 160 players have been drawn. It will bring together players from the host club as well as Makuyu Golf Club and Ruiru Golf Club who be fighting for the top two slots to the grand finale set for September 29 at the Karen Golf and Country Club.

The first two qualifying groups have already been identified; this was done during the open tournament last weekend at the par 72 Kiambu Golf Club. michael kors outlet michael kors outlet