EYEING REGIONAL TITLE: Limuru's Francis Kimani (middle) is congratulated by KDN Marketing Manager Vincent Wangombe (right) and former KGU Chairman Samuel Ndegwa (left) after winning a past event. He will captain the Kenyan team at this year's Tanzania Open.

By ENOCK NGOME

Limuru’s Francis Kimani will be captaining the Kenya amateur golf national team at this year’s East Africa Challenge, which tees off on Thursday in Arusha.

The team of eight players left the country on Tuesday by road to Arusha where they held their practice sessions on Wednesday.

[sam id=”7″ codes=”true”] Last year, Kenya tied on points with eventual winners, Uganda who retained the trophy as they were the defending champions. Only an outright win by Kenya, holders of this trophy for many years will restore the country’s place in regional golf.

Tanzania however, the hosts, are the team to watch even though they did not participate in the Africa Amateur Team championships in South Africa last month. Uganda, who came second last in Johannesburg must not be discounted, as they obviously prefer matchplay to strokeplay, the format of the continental bi-annual championships.

The team which will be led by KGU’s vice chairman, Alfred Kariuki and Andrew Chelogoi, KGU North Rift Region Representative, consist of Ali Kimani as the coach while the players are Francis Kimani (Limuru) – Captain, David Opati (Golf Park), Mathew Omondi (Vet Lab), Robinson Owiti (Vet Lab), Justus Madoya (Great Valley), Frank Matilo (Muthaiga), Joseph W Karanja (Golf Park) and Abraham Abdullahi(Great Rift Valley and Junior international). Antony Omuli of Golf Park was dropped from the team for failing to appear at the team briefing. nike air max 97 nike air max 97

EYEING THE TOP PRIZE: Twafiq Balala takes a swing at the NIC Bank Golf Series Finale in Nyali.

By ENOCK NGOME

Handicap 17 golfer, John Smith is the winner of thefinal round of the NIC Bank Golf Series that took place at the 18-hole par-71Nyali Golf and Country Club over the weekend.

Smith scored 18 points on the front nine and 20 pointson the back nine for a total of 38 stable-ford points to emerge tops in thetournament that attracted 131 golfers to the coastal town of Nyali.

Coming in second was Salim Tweshe with 37 pointstotal. In third place was handicap 14 golfer Rohit Devani who managed 18 pointson the first nine and 19 points on the second nine, losing on countback toTweshe. Devani was nearest to the pin with 6ft 11 inches to cover in Saturday’stournament.

Handicap 7 lady golfer Diana Munyao scored 36 pointsto win the lady’s category ahead of Jayne Githere who came in second with 36points. In the guest category, Stephano Messina emerged best with 34 pointsbeating Richard Githii of handicap 18 who scored 31 points.

The staff prize was scooped by Tim Gitonga playing offhandicap 27. Gitonga managed 14 points on the front nine and 18 points on theback for a total of 32 points.

In the junior category Agil Ishaq topped with 34points; 14 on the first nine and 20 on the second nine.

Kellen Weku playing off handicap 26 dominated thefirst nine with 19 points while handicap 8 golfer Vishnu Dhutia was best in thesecond nine with 21 points.

The prize for the longest drive went to Taufiq Balalaof handicap 9 managing a 420-yard drive on the 6509-yard course

This tournament marked the end of the NIC Bank Golf Serieswhich visited 9 regions including Eldoret Golf Club, Vet Lab Sports Club, Nanyuki Sports Cluband Limuru Country Club in July. In August, the series visited the Nyanza Clubin Kisumu where golfers from Kakamega, Kisii, Kericho and Nandi Bearsparticipated. In September, the series moved to the Nakuru Golf Club, KiambuClub and Thika Sports Club. The NIC Bank Golf Series has brought together over2,000 golfers drawn from 1 golf clubs across the country.

NIC BankGroup Managing Director, James Macharia, says the bank will likely extend the sponsorshipto 2012 given the success of this year’s season in facilitating interactionbetween golfers and the bank. nike air max schwarz nike air max schwarz