EYEING GREATNESS: Stefan Andersen makes a chip in a past event.

By KGG CORRESPONDENT

Nairobi, 8 June 2011

South Africa-based Kenyan internationa, Stefan Engell Andersen left the country yesterday for UK to play in the 116^th Amateur golf championships, the most prestigious event on the R&A amateur calender.

Currently ranked 764 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, governed by the Royal and Ancient of Scotland, Andersen will play the first part of the Championships, a 36 hole Strokeplay, at Hillside golf club and Hesketh golf club respectively on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 June 2011, in Meryside, close to both Liverpool and Manchester.

Andersen, who played in the World Amateur team championships in Argentina last year was also a member of the Junior World Team championships in Japan in 2008, and played in the Junior Orange Bowl in Florida the same year. He is playing in a championships in the the United Kingdom for the first time.

The last Kenyan to play in this event was back in 1972, when David Farrar reached the third round at Royal St Georges, losing to Dick Siderowf, the four times US Walker cup captain.

The field is limited to 288 players in the Strokeplay, after which the 64 lowest scored over the 36 holes and ties for 64thplace will compete in the match play stage of the Championships, to commence on Wednesday 15 June at Hillside and will be seeded. Over 31 countries will be represented, Kenya and South Africa being the only ones from Africa.

Entry to the Amateur championships is open to any golfer in the world, with preference given to the player’s current position in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, handicap and exemption in the starting field given to winners of various strokeplay events around the world, regional amateur champions and Walker team players to name a few.

The winner of the 116^th Amateur championship gets automatic entry to The Open, the US Open and the US Amateur championships.

Ends…… michael kors handtasche sale michael kors handtasche sale

PLOTTING NEXT ACTION: Joseph Thiga lines his putt during the competition at Thika Sports Club. His team finished second in the competition.

By KGG CORRESPONDENT

Members of Ruiru and Makuyu Golf Clubs had a tough day on the course dominated by Thika Sports Club members who claimed all the three qualification slots to the Dasani Golf Gala Grand Finale.

The team of Stephen Kinyanjui, Simon Ndungu, David Njehia and John Thairo carried the day with an excellent team score of 111 stableford points. Kinyanjui who was the team’s pilot returned a magnificent 41points, Ndungu managed 36points while Njehia contributed 34points. Thairo however was the team’s weakest link and shot 32points.

The Vice-Captain Thika Sports Club  Handicap 7 Patrick Gakuo scored a hole-in-one on number four one of his first in his golfing career. Speaking after his round, an elated Gakuo who admitted that he has never scored a nearest to the pin said that good company, accommodating weather and a lot of effort worked to his advantage. “In my 25 years of golf this is my first one-in-hole and I must say that I trust my team will work well.”

The team of former chairman David Wainaina, Joseph Thiga, David Karuma and Walsh Irungu finished second after posting a team score of 109 beating the third team of Wycliffe Murwayi, Kim Nderitu, Jitan Shah and Rajan Shah on countback. Thiga anchored the team on 38, Karuma contributed 36 and Walsh Irungu shot a magnificent 35. Wainaina was the team’s weakest link returning 32. However, his score was influential as it was used to determine a higher  slot for his team following the rules of the Gala that uses the fourth winner to decide the winner.He beat  the third team’s Rajan Shah who could only manage 27points.

The individual prize went to the handicap 24 Wycliffe Murwayi who shot an exceelent 44 points beating phillip Mionki who did a magnificent 40points.

David Sate from Nyanza Golf Club won the guest prize on 37points beating Limuru’s Peter Maina who only managed 32 points.

The Gala now moves to Windsor Golf Resort coming weekend where two qualification slots to the Grand Finale are up for grabs before moving to Nyali where Coast based Golf clubs will converge at Nyali.

The winning team in the Dasani Golf Gala wins an all expense paid trip to the TOUR Championship, presented by Coca-Cola, at the East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta, Georgia. The TOUR Championship is the last event of the US-PGA Tour and only the top 30 golf professionals in the world are invited to compete. The VIP winners will also play on the Tour’s top golf courses including the TPC SugarLoaf and the TPC SawGrass in Florida. The winners will also get a tour of the home Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. cgparka cgparka