Mary Kandu awarded at Nyali Golf and Country Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Mary Kandu put up a brilliant display to defend the Ladies Division One Title during the Nyali Golf & Country Club leg of the ongoing 2024 NCBA Golf Series.

The penultimate qualifying leg of the series saw the top male and female finishers in Divisions One and Two, the overall winner in Division Three, and the overall Junior winner book their slots for the final round of the 2024 series, which will be held at Muthaiga Golf Club on November 29.

The Nyali event attracted more than 200 golfers, all aiming to punch the much sought-after tickets to the grand finale.

Kandu, playing off handicap 12 then, won last year’s qualifying leg at the par 71 course on countback, fending off stiff competition from Trupena Oyaro to clinch the title.

However, it was not the case this time around as the handicap 11 home player picked a comfortable win after carding 36 points.

“The course was really good although we had some rain. It feels nice that I will be participating in the grand finale and playing against the elite golfers in the country and I look forward to playing at Muthaiga and I hope to win,” Kandu said.

It was not a smooth sail in the men’s division as Emmanuel Lumatete, playing off handicap 8 beat Aydan Jama (Handicap 12) on countback after both golfers returned 39 points.

“I attribute my win today to my four-ball which was very competitive. Golf is a game of mental strength, and I believe I played well from the first to the 18th hole. There is the finale to be played in Nairobi and I hope to emerge as the best of the best. This was a job well done by NCBA,” Lumatete said.

In Division Two, Elijah Ibua (Handicap (24) scored points to claim the men’s category while Faith Muteti’s (Handicap 18) 45 points were enough to seal her the top spot.

Jack Mureithi, playing off handicap 36 posted 45 points to emerge the overall winner in Division Three while David Kaguru won the junior category with 43 points off handicap 35.

Agnes Nyambura and Wangoru Kihara won the staff and guest categories after posting 33 and 38 points respectively.

So far, 100 golfers have already qualified based on their performance in previous events, including six from Uganda and three from Rwanda.

The Director Network Business and Distribution at NCBA, Dennis Njau stated: ” I want to take this chance to congratulate the winners for the day following their exemplary display on the course. Their hard work earned them the chance to play at the coveted 2024 NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale on November 29th at Muthaiga Golf Club. We wish them well and hope they will represent this great club well. The series has grown and this year we have spread our golfing wings around the region to cover Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda who will have representatives playing at the grand finale in Nairobi next month.”

The series takes a week’s break before heading to the Great Rift Valley Lodge for the final local qualifying leg on October 26th.

Michael Karanga in action during a previous NCBA Kenya Amateur Golf Championship tournament.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The NCBA Nandi Bears Open Shield is set to take place from October 4th to 6th, 2024, at the Nandi Bears Golf Club. This event has attracted 74 talented amateur players from across the country. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.

The tournament will feature a competitive field, with notable players to watch including home players Nelson Koech, Elly Barno, Ebill Omollo from Vet Lab Sports Club, and Daniel Kiragu from Muthaiga Golf Club.

The tournament will be without the top four players in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) rankings: Michael Karanga, John Lejirma, Elvis Muigua, and Adel Balala. These players will be representing Kenya in the Africa Region IV Championship, taking place simultaneously from October 2nd to 6th, 2024, in Kigali.

The NCBA Nandi Bear Open Shield aims not only to crown a champion but also to promote the sport of golf across the region. NCBA Bank and other local sponsors have sponsored the event which seeks to provide a platform for golfers to showcase their skills while encouraging participation at all levels.

The Prize Money for the event is set at Ksh. 400, 000, where the winner will walk away with Ksh. 92,500.

‘We are happy to return to Nandi Bears Golf Club and extend our heartfelt thanks to the management for their exceptional organization. We also express our deep appreciation to our sponsors, led by NCBA, for their unwavering support of our elite golfers,” said Brian Akun, Hon. Secretary of the Kenya Golf Union.

“This is one of the ongoing 28 events in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) 2024 Calendar organized by the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) and sponsored by NCBA which counts as a Golfer of the Year award and offers a platform for golfers to earn points to the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR),” he added.