WINNER'S SWING: Thika's Simon Ngige follows his swing at the Royal Nairoi Golf Club yesterday. He took an over night lead on seven under at the fourth leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Series.

By JAMES WAINDI

Thika’s professional Simon Ngige bounced back from poor show in the last KCB East Africa event held at the Nyanza Golf Club where he finished a disappointing sixth, as he took an early lead at the fourth leg currently going on at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club.

The player who won the order of merit in the same series in 2010 played an impressive round of seven under par 65 to carry an over-night lead of three shots as his closest challenger, new Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) chairman Riz Charania settled for the second position on four under par 68.

Nyanza winner Dismas Indiza, Vet Lab’s Ali Kimani and Nyali’s Kopan Timbe finished the first round joint third on three under par 69.

“I played well today because I have been practicing on this course for the last one week. The course today was playing long, but I managed to hit 80 percent of my ball on the fairway and I was also putting well. I managed 28 putts today,” said Ngige.

The first round winner started with back-to-back birdies on the par five hole two and par four hole three, picked other shots on the par four hole five, par five hole seven and par three hole eight for a first nine score of 33.

In the second nine, Ngige sunk a birdie on the par three hole 13, posted back-to-back eagles on the par five 14^th and par five 15^th, before dropping a shot on the par four 16 for a score of 32.

Charania on the other hand started with a birdie on the par three sixth hole, sunk an eagle on the par five seventh hole, but dropped two shots on the par three eighth hole and par four ninth for a score of 35.

In the second hole, the Windsor player picked a shot on the par four tenth hole, dropped a single shot on the par four 12^th hole, before recovering with birdies on the par three 13^th, par five 14^th and par five 15^th for a score of 33. nike air max 1 nike air max 1

RARING TO GO: Dismas Indiza seen here in action during the third lg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour at the Nyanza Golf Club last month. He is among the favourites at the fourth leg to be held at Royal Nairobi Club from Wednesday.

By JAMES WAINDI

Stakes will be raised when the fourth round for the KCB East African Golf Tour tees off at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club this Wednesday with Dismas Indiza, the winner of the last leg in Nyanza expected to receive a run for his money from other determined players.

According to the Chairman of Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK), Rizwan Charania, this leg has registered over 30 professionals attesting to growth and popularity of the game.

“The number of Pros has increased effectively giving big numbers to the various tournaments that are staged across the country,” Charania said.

The growth is attributed to the increase in individual tournament prize money in this year’s series.

KCB is the sole sponsor of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour tournament that has enabled the development of young talents in view of the popularity currently taking place in the game.

The winner will take home cash prize of Kshs 96,000 followed by Kshs 82,000 and Kshs 70,000, for first runner-up and second runner-up respectively.

KCB will host Professionals to a three day tournament and the fourth day a PRO-AM where amateurs are grouped with Pros will play. According to PGK Chairman, who is also the Resident Pro at Windsor Golf Club, this has contributed to growth.

KCB Advantage Banking Golf tournament series has witnessed a variety of winners; during this year’s inaugural tournament held at Thika golf club Anil Shah of Royal Nairobi Golf club emerged the overall winner bagging a five under par 67 in the final day; in the second leg Rizwan Charania of Windsor Golf club emerged the overall winner with a 71, 65 and 69 to close with an overall 8 under par.

In the last KCB East Africa Golf tournament held at Nyanza Golf Club Dismus Indiza of Mumias Golf Club managed to keep his home tuff pride by emerging the overall winner.

A tough tournament is expected as the grass meets the iron in this encounter that marks a significant turn towards the KCB East African Golf tour grand finale.

“KCB continues to be at the core of developing talents and in this case golf talents. East African Golf Tour is very significant in developing and nurturing golfers in the region following competitive tournaments all year round,” said the KCB Chief Business Officer Kenya, Peter Kimondo.

He said the bank has committed a total of KShs 9 million, of which KShs 6.4 million continues to be spent on cash rewards for the professionals while the golf administration and other prizes for the amateurs amount to KShs 2.6 million. air max mujer air max mujer