EYES ON THE BALL: Professional player Anil Shah follows his tee shot during the KCB East Africa Tour Grand Finalle at the Nyali Golf and Country Club.

By JAPHETH KAGONDU

Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Captain Rizwan Charania was in his best form yesterday as he sunk four birdies, two in each side to lead a group of four on one under par as the 2011 KCB East Africa Golf Tour finals got under way at the tough playing Nyali Golf and Country Club course.

Charania who missed cut in Arusha and Kampala out of the few events he played this year, played a steady front nine which included birdies at the fifth and ninth with a bogey at the seventh, then birdied the 13th and 14th after dropping a shot at the par five-11th and the 18th for one under par 70 to tie with Royal Nairobi’s Anil Shah, Thika’s Simon Ngigi and Rwanda’s Emmanuel Ruterana.

Shah birdied the two par fives at the front side where he also dropped a shot at the ninth, started the back nine with a bogey at the par three-10th but eagled the 11th, par five, dropped a shot at the 16th and 18th with a birdie at the 17th, while Ngigi took off well with an eagle at the first hole but dropped two back to back shots soon after, and managed to pick up one birdie at the eighth and at the back nine birdied the 13th and eagled the 17th but he had dopped a shot earlier at the 15th while a double bogey at the last
green after missing the green, denied him an outright lead.

Ruterana made five birdies but a double bogey at the 13th spoiled the party for him. Finishing a shot behind the leaders was Jacob Okello from the Golf Park with level par 71 while three others including tournament favourite Greg Snow were on one over par 72.

The others were Hesbon Kutwa of Royal Nairobi, and Nakuru’s Richard Ainley. Njuguna Ngugi, Dismas Indiza and Uganda’s Deo Akope fired two over par 73 to make the top 10 list. The second round of the Sh3m event starts at 11am. Only 39 professionals turned up for this year’s grand finale. canada goose jacke herren canada goose jacke herren

By JAPHETH KAGONDU

Over the weekend Kevin Mabele from Kenya Air Force Golf Club and Noh Phintham of Windsor both qualified in the first round of the recently unveiled Safaricom Business Golf Challenge held at Windsor Golf Club. Mabele and Phintham emerged overall winner and first runner-up with a superb 41 points and 40 points respectively earning themselves a fully paid trip to play in the grand final at Vipingo Ridge, Mombasa 0n 28th April 2012.

Playing off handicap 2, Kevin Mabele displayed outstanding golf when he sunk four birdies to romp home with a total of 41 stable ford points beating over 144 golfers. Mabele, embarked on the outward nine with a par on the first hole, sunk birdies on hole three and five. He then pared hole six to nine with the exception of hole two and four where he dropped a shot each but still managed to return 19 points. At the inward nine, Mabele continued to display excellent form with three consecutive birdies on hole ten, twelve and thirteen. He then pared all the other holes for a total of impressive 22 points. Handicap 22, Noh Phintham combined 24 and 16 points for atotal of 40 points to take the second place beating John Kaniuru to the third position with 38 points. Home player, Kaniaru playing off handicap 5 also beat Anthony Kariuki and Handeep jandu on count back. Tom Simba combined 21 points on the first nine and 22 points at the back nine for a total of remarkable 42 points to take the guest winner prize. Longest drive-lady and longest drive men went to Nikhita Dodhia and David Nyagah respectively.

Nearest to the pin- man went to Azah Madhani while Veena Sennik took the nearest to pin-lady. Playing off handicap 18, Aman Pribhai carded 22 and 18 points for a total of 40 points to win the best junior prize. In the cardies competition Peter Irungu emerged top beating John Muchiri on count back while Julius Nyagah took the staff prize. However, it was a tough day for Evans Nyagah the Safaricom Head of Sales and Retention- Enterprise Business Unit after he took the piga mingi prize in his second time to play a complete 18 hole. From Nairobi, the challenge will move to Kisumu at the Nyanza Golf Club next weekend before proceeding to Kakamega, Thika and Nakuru next month.

During the month of October, the challenge will tour Kitale, Kericho and Eldoret. In November, the series will tour Nyali in Mombasa and Machakos before closing the year in Nairobi again.

Early next year, the Safaricom Business GolfChallenge will be staged at Muthaiga, Railway Golf Club Limuru and Nanyuki. From there, it will move to Sigona Golf Club then to Kiambu Golf Club.

The grand finals will be held in April 2012 at the Vipingo Golf Club where all qualifying golfers will converge to battle it out for the overall winner. air max damen air max damen