By ENOCK NGOME

David Opati is the winner of the Keringet Kenya Amateur Open. Opati, a scratch handicap golfer, a member of the Golf Park Golf Club and a member of the national team, returned a score of 1-over par 289 after four rounds on the par-72 golf course at the THIKA Sports Club.

With this victory Opati automatically claims a place in the 2012 Kenya Open, a Challenge Tour professional golf event.

Opati started his campaign at THIKA with a opening score of 1-under par 71, he followed this with a 4-under par 68 establishing a 7-stroke lead that was narrowed down to a 4-stroke lead at the end of the third round. Patrick Kingori, Joseph Karanja, Robinson Owiti and Justus Madoya failed to capitalize on  Opati’s, poor finishing round of 75 on day three of the championship, returning equally poor rounds.

Opati’s rounds of 71, 68, 75 and 75 for 1-over total of 289 may have been good for a 9-strong victory and the Kenya Amateur Trophy, but failing to break par on a relatively easy golf course is damning for the standards of golf in Kenya. Justus Madoya, Robinson Owiti, Joseph Karanja, Anthony Kinuthia and Patrick Kingori finished second on 10-over par 298.

The Kenya Amateur Open is part of the Keringet sponsored KGU Golfer of the Year and is the most prestigious amateur championship in Kenya.

Three events now remain on the Keringet GOTY series; the Manchester Salver in Eldoret, the Uhuru Shield at Royal Nairobi and the season ender, the Nyali Open at the Nyali Golf and Country Club. Keringet have committed to support the GOTY series for three years. canada goose jacke herren canada goose jacke herren

By ENOCK NGOME

Nandi bears John Tarus beat a large field of seasoned golfers from Kericho and Nandi hills to top the eighth qualifying round of 2011/2012 Safaricom Business Golf Challenge at the par 70 Kericho Golf Club.

Playing off handicap 7, the elite golfer who has played golf for seven years now, set off his first tee shot, par 4-304 yards onto the green but parted three times for a par. He dropped a shot on the par 4, second hole, four back to back
pars on par 3, par 4, par 3 and par 4 third, fourth, fifth and sixth holes consecutively.

Tarus dropped a shot on the par 4, seventh hole before penning his 20 points front nine with double pars on par 5 and par 4, eigth and ninth holes respectively.

The Nandi bears golfer hit a par on par 4 tenth hole, dropped a shot on eleventh par 4, a par on par 3, twelvth hole but dropped two shots on fourteenth and fifteenth holes respectively.

He recovered with the only birdie for the day on par 5, fifteenth hole that spiced up his impressive 20 back nine and three back to back pars on par 3, par 5 and the last hole par 4 consecutively.

“Apparently i have played on wet greens for long and hence the trick has been to prefer irons on all of my tee shots and thus keeping the balls safe on fairways. Thats how i won,” said Tarus on receiving his fully sponsored ticket
for the grand finale scheduled for April next year at Rea Vipingo, Mombasa from Evans Nyagah, Safaricom Head of Enterprise Sales and Retention.

Playing off handicap 13 from Nandi bears as well William Kamanga shot the second best for the day to also get a slot for the grand finale.

William hit an outward 18 and in ward 20 for  38 stable ford points. He hit three best birdies that attributed to his first runners up position on par 4 seventh hole,par 5 fifteenth and par 5 seventeenth .

The well known long hitter, hit pars on first, fourth, fifth, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, sixteenth and eighteenth holes.

Previously, Safaricom had sponsored the Clubs caddies competititon which was won by Robert Ngeno playing off handicap 6. He won a blackberry phone and airtime worth Ksh 5,000.

William Kamanga from home club playing off handicap 13 came in third with 38 stableford 20 and 18 on front and back nine respectively.

Gurdit Virdee playing off handicap 4 from Kericho came in fourth overall hitting 37 points.Longest drive ladies prize went to Ireen Brooker from Nandi bears playing off handicap 29 and for men went to home club Charles Siele playing off handicap 1.

Nearest to the pin prize went to Richard Rotich playing off handicap 12 and the guest prize went to Philip Owino from Nyanza club playing on 3 handicap. All the winners in different Categories received Mobile phones, Airtimes, Laptops and goods worth courtesy of Safaricom Business.

The ninth Safaricom Business golf Challenge qualifying round moves to coastal region on 12th November at Nyali Golf Club. Players from Mombasa, Rea Vipingo and Malindi golf clubs are expected to qualify from the same venue. canada goose damen canada goose damen