Shashwat Harish, best performer of the 2025 NCBA Kenya Invitational poses for a photo with his trophy at the Windsor Golf Club.

By DANIELA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Shashwat Harish was again in a class of his own as he played under par for the third consecutive day. Harish saved the best for last and played an impressive six under par 66. In the first round, he played two under par 70, the same score he got on the second day. His total for the tournament is an impressive ten under par 206, his best-ever score in any competition. He promised to play better in the final round, and he delivered.

“It was there, the drive to do well but it wasn’t like I was gunning for it. I hit great shots, I put the ball close, I made good putts but at the end of the day, what made the difference is I’m getting to know my game very well,” said Harish.

Shashwat said he was mentally more prepared and took the opportunities when they came his way. Despite the strong winds at the Windsor Golf and Country Club, Shashwat was able to control his game and took advantage of the intensive training he had put in over the last four months.

“I get to the course an hour before the competition just to hit balls. I also go to the gym as the first thing just to get the body moving and get in shape. I stick to my routine not just physically, but mentally as well by getting in the right space. These things are very important,” elaborated Harish.

Aiden Gachora, who started in fifth position on day one, played an impressive level par in round three to move to second behind Shashwat with a score of 13 over par 229. Mwathi Gicheru and Shashank Sachin tied for third with a score of 14 over par 230, just one shot behind Gachora.

The other competitive group was the girls 15-18 years category. Maryam Mwakitawa and Audrey Gachora played identical two over par 74 in round two, but Mwakitawa held a one-shot lead overall going into the final third round. The final round witnessed another tie, Audrey Gachora and Bianca Ngecu both with a score of five over par 77. Mwakitawa, who had a rough day on the course, managed a score of nine over par 81. This gave Gachora the overall lead with a score of 15 over par 231, three strokes better than Mwakitawa. Gachora had promised to turn the tables on Mwakitawa in the final round.

“I didn’t have that much confidence but in my heart, I felt I was going to win. My highest moment was when I got two birdies on the par fives, and I was going really well at one over(par). But then I bogeyed hole number nine, then my lowest moment came when unfortunately I got an eight on a par four putting me at five over par, but then I stayed at that to the end,” she explained.

For Mwakitawa, it was a day to forget as nothing seemed to be working well for her.

”My tee shots were quite challenging. I couldn’t keep my drivers straight, I couldn’t go where I wanted to go, I struggled because I found myself in the rough most of the time. I was fighting for pars and birdies but some doubles (bogeys) came along the way, I turned at level par and I guess I got too eager and everything just blew up in my face,” she explained.

The NCBA Invitational has attracted more than 116 golfers from 10 countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe.  The three-day tournament will conclude on Monday. The event is crucial as it will count for the order of merit points for non-handicapped and handicapped boys and girls between 15 -18 years old in the Kenyan Junior Golf Foundation system for the year 2024. It is also an event where they will earn World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.

Caroline Muguku, winner of the Parklands Sports Club Annual Charity Golf Tournament with Parklands Sports Club Chairman Norman Asega.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Caroline Muguku, playing off handicap 31, emerged as the overall winner at this year’s Parklands Sports Club Annual Charity Golf Tournament held over the weekend, scoring an impressive 43 points in a highly competitive field.

The tournament, held at the century-old par-72 Vetlab Sports Club, brought together 144 golfers of all levels to compete while contributing to noble causes. Proceeds from the event will be distributed in kind to support various homes and organizations identified by the club.

In other results, Joe Kisolo, playing off handicap 10, claimed the Gross Winner title with a score of 77 gross.

Men Division A (Handicap 15 & Below) saw Eugene Ngigi (HC 14) take the top spot with 38 points, followed by Kepha Bosire (HC 10) with 35 points, and Abraham Samoei (HC 13), also with 35 points, finishing third on countback.

Men Division B (Handicap 16-28) was won by Henry D’souza (HC 19) with 38 points, while Wilfred Gichovi (HC 25) and Francis Kimathi (HC 16) took second and third places with 36 points each.

In Men Division C (Handicap 29 & Above), Kenneth Ringera (HC 34) showcased an outstanding performance, winning with 41 points.

Among the ladies, Lady Division A (Handicap 25 & Below) saw Anisya Ibragimova (HC 22) emerge victorious with 36 points, ahead of Esther Ngigi (HC 21) with 34 points, and Jane Mwangi (HC 23) with 30 points.

In Lady Division B (Handicap 26-36), Jeniffer Mwangangi (HC 25) led with 32 points, while Lady Division C (Handicap 37 & Above) was dominated by Faith Njenga (HC 40), who scored an impressive 42 points.

A golfer in action during the Parklands Sports Club Annual Golf Tournament at Vetlab Sports Club

In the subsidiary categories, Jay Vadgama took home the Longest Drive title among the men, while Lydia Mokaya claimed the honors for Longest Drive among the ladies. Precision was key for the Nearest to Pin winners, with Robert Maina excelling in the men’s category and Elizabeth Njau showcasing her accuracy to triumph in the ladies’ category.

Speaking during the prize-giving ceremony, Parklands Sports Club Chairman Norman Asega said, “This tournament is more than just a day of golf; it’s a celebration of community and compassion. Through the generosity of our participants and sponsors, we are able to touch lives and bring hope to those who need it most. Parklands Sports Club is proud to uphold this tradition of giving back, and we are grateful to everyone who has contributed to making this year’s event such a success.”

His comments were echoed by Parklands Sports Club Honorary Secretary Isaac Kamande who expressed gratitude to the golfers, sponsors, and organizers for making the event a success. “This tournament goes beyond golf; it’s about changing lives and spreading hope to those in need. We are proud to continue this tradition of giving back to the community,” they said.

Vida Expressive, one of the event’s production sponsors, lauded the tournament’s impact. CEO Donvan Mwangi remarked, “Being part of an event that blends sports and charity is truly inspiring. We’re proud to help amplify this story of giving and community.”

The Annual Charity Golf Tournament remains a hallmark of Parklands Sports Club’s commitment to using sports as a vehicle for positive change.