Eldoret's Jack Tuwei in action during a past event.

By ENOCK NGOME

Over 130 players have been drawn to participate in the 10th leg of the Tusker Malt Golf Carnival to take place at the Vet Lab Sports Club, Saturday.

Club Captain, David Kihara guarantees golfers a thrilling game as they explore the Four Ball Better Ball format in the 9-hole par-71 course.

Kihara says the course is manageable and golfers can expect an easy time. “The greens are firm and fast and the course is in great shape,” says Kihara. “However, fairways are running dry owing to the dry weather,” adds Captain Kihara.

Action tees off at 6.30am with the last team hitting the course at slightly after 8.30am to finish at 1.30pm. “We tee off early in order to accommodate everyone as we are a 9-hole course. The carefully planned tee placement for the second nine holes always gives the feel of playing eighteen different holes.” says Captain Kihara.

Top contenders and the day’s possible champions include the winner of the just concluded Sigona Bowl Matthew Omondi. Playing off scratch, Omondi beat Captain Francis Kimani of Limuru by a whole six shots to claim the golf title at the par 72 Sigona Golf Club course on January 21. Omondi pairs with handicap 6, Edgar Kalya. The duo of handicap 19, Mercy Kebaara and handicap 3, David Kimani are also among the top contestants.

“Former Vet Lab Sports Club captain Njani Nderitu (9) and F.N. Mwangi (9) are currently in great form, and are also among the top contenders on Saturday,” adds Kihara.

In keeping with the key brand values of Tusker Malt, the Golf Carnival, which is popular, is going to give golfers the chance to enhance the spirit of friendship and bonding as it travels all around East Africa’s Golf Courses.  Players face a more complex challenge at Vet Lab Sports Club as the bar was set up higher by the team of Sammy Ndung’u and Anthony Wachira of Sigona, who set up a new record with 50 points. Moses Tanui and David Kimutai of Eldoret are currently in second place with 49 points.

The Tusker Malt Carnival will be heading to the 9-hole Malindi Golf Club for a Club Night before moving to Nyali Golf & Country Club for the 11th and 12th leg of the Carnival, on February 8th and 11th respectively. The tournament which started in September 2011 aims to engage some 5, 000 golfers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. canada goose männer canada goose männer

EYEING REPEAT PERFORMANCE: Last year's Grand Finalle winner Anil Shah in action during the Nyali event last August. He will be in action at Thika.

By ENOCK NGOME

The first leg of this year’s KCB East Africa Golf Tour which enters its fifth year, gets under way at the par 72 Thika Sports Club course on Thursday.

Tournament Director Rizwan Charania said in Nairobi on Monday that some changes had been introduced into this year’s tournament, with a view to making it more challenging and interesting for golfers.

Among the changes is the introduction of a Kshs. 3 million prize fund for the grand finale of six tournaments that will now be held in Kenya. The tournaments organisers have also revised the number of holes that will be played at Thika Golf club this week from 72-holes to 54 holes. Charania, who is also the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Captain, said KCB has increased the prize money at Thika to KShs. 600,000.

Leading professionals including the last year’s grand finale winner Anil Shah of Royal Nairobi Golf Club, had listed their names to play, with more players expected to confirm by close of the day.  “Other than South Africa-based Stefan Andersen who returned home after participating in the European Challenge Tour’s Gujarat Kensville Challenge in India, and Muthaiga’s Greg Snow whose name had not been received by Monday morning, a total of 26 leading players had confirmed participation’’ said Charania.

Speaking during the launch of this year’s series, KCB’s Director, Marketing and Communications Angela Mwirigi said the bank had committed a total of KShs. 9 million, of which KShs 6.4 million will be prize fund for the professionals while the golf administration and prizes for the amateurs amount to KShs 2,600,000.

“Though we will not host the tournament in the other countries within East Africa this year, our objective still remain to continue growing this championship to a level where it will attract top regional and continental golfers to Kenya hence promoting KCB Group as a continental brand and Kenya as a destination for golf tourism’’ said Angela.

This year the tour will feature Thika, Muthaiga, Nyanza, Royal Nairobi, Nakuru and Nyali Golf and Mombasa Country Club. As usual, professionals will conduct a free golf clinic to Thika members and KCB employees after the second round on Friday.

The Thika course which hosted the Annual Mug of Mugs sponsored by President Mwai Kibaki during the weekend is in great condition and ready to host the pros some of whom participated during the weekend’s event. The pros who were in Thika during the weekend included home pros Simon Ngige, Railway’s Njuguna Ngugi and Muthaiga’s Paul Thuo. nike air max weiß damen nike air max weiß damen