Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Chairman Parshu Hirani (right) with officials of Dasani Water during the launch of Dasani Golf Gala

By CHARLES GACHERU

The second edition of the Dasani Golf Gala tee off tomorrow at the Kiambu Golf Club and is expected to have 18 events spread throughout the country.

Speaking during the tournament’s launch yesterday, Senior Marketing Brand Manager, Kenya, for Coca-Cola East and Central Africa Catherine Mudachi predicted an exciting tournament that would raise the bar for amateur golfers in Kenya.

“This year, we are charting new waters and making history in Kenya as the winners of the Dasani Golf Gala travel to Atlanta, the home of Coca-Cola, to the TOUR Championship presented by our company at the East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta, Georgia, USA,” Mudachi said.

The TOUR Championship has historically been the final event of the PGA Tour and the final event of the FedEx Cup. The TOUR Championship, presented by Coca-Cola, includes an elite field of the top 30 money winners on the PGA tour.

“While our winners will not play in the TOUR Championship, they will be VIP guests throughout the tournament and will freely interact with the top golfing professionals in the world,” Mudachi added. “Further, the PGA Tour has organized for our winners to play at their golf courses, including the TPC Sugarloaf and the TPC Blue Monster at Doral. Our VIP winners will also get a tour of The Coca-Cola Company headquarters in Atlanta.”

Last year, the Gala created excitement by offering the opportunity for teams to compete for the ultimate prize, a trip to the Gary Player Invitational, hosted by Gary Player at the Fancourt Golf Resort in South Africa. The Eldoret Golf Club team of Timothy Alala, Ahmed Ferej, Wilson Samoei and Michael Rotich were the winners of the inaugural Gala in 2010.

Speaking at the same ceremony, the Chairman of the KGU, Parshu Hirani, commended Dasani for supporting golf in Kenya. “On behalf of the Union, I would like to thank the Coca-Cola Company for continuously supporting golf in Kenya,” Hirani said. “I believe the new season will bring fresh excitement to Kenyan golfers and hopefully inspire all of us to play better golf.”

The 2011 Dasani Golf Gala will include 18 events and host participants from 38 golf clubs across the country and under the various bottler territories. Nairobi Bottlers Ltd. will host events at 14 different venues, whilst Rift Valley Bottlers, Kisii Bottlers, Equator Bottlers and Mt. Kenya Bottlers will host one event each. Over 10,000 club members will experience the 2011 Dasani Golf Gala.

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Eldoret's Hanna Ritebe follows his shot during the General Motors East Africa Golf Day at the Kitale Golf Club

By JOHN NJUE

Jamii Telecom Limited’s (JTL) gesture could not have come at a better time as their inaugural tournament known as the JTL PGK Matsers would act as warm-up ahead of the 43rd edition of the Kenya Open Golf Championships.

A total of 25 professional golfers tee off on Tuesday March 22, 2011 at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club for the 72-hole competition sponsored by Jamii Telecom Limited.

“The course is in a good condition ready for the Kenya Open and this would be a good test for the local professionals as they prepare for the Open which will be played at the same venue. The professionals would play 72 holes beginning tomorrow (today) until Friday when the JTL will also be having it’s corporate Golf Day at the same venue,” said Muthaiga’s resident professional Elisha Kasuku.
Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) chairman Charan Thethy said the tournament was timely and noted that it would give the professionals a chance to test the course and ‘learn the new conditions of the course.’
Jamii Telcom Limited chairman, Joshua Chepkwony said: “We are looking forward to be sponsors of the professional golfers of Kenya Masters every year, a week before Kenya Open.”
“We have also invited the Kenya team for Zone VI, which comprises of six amateurs who would compete in the JTL Coprorate Golf Day as part of their preparations for the Kenya Open and we are looking forward to an exhilarating Open,” said Chepkwony as he presented the organisers with a cheque of Sh300, 000 meanth for the prize money.
Meanwhile, handicap 28 Samuel Marakwen beat a large field of seasoned Rift Valley Golfers to emerge with the winner of the General Motors East Africa Golf Series at Kitale Golf and Country at the weekend.
The Kitale Golf club member combined 21 points in the first nine and 19 points in the back nine for a total of 40 stable ford points.
Eldoret Golf Club’s, Phillip Shiharsy playing handicap 15 was the runner up on 38 points (19, 19), while William Rotto finished third on 36 points (17, 19).
In Kakamega, handicap 10 Logan Busolo was the overall winner of the Kenya Endowment Fund Tournament that was sponsored by A. Ware after posting 38 stableford
Points (20, 28). Fred Makala was second with 37 points (20, 17) and handicap 22 A. Owano settled for third position on 37 points.
Hezron Wafula finished fourth on 36 points (18, 18).
Muthaiga: MGC Masters Sponsored by Friends of the Captain, Men Winner- Phillip Kungu 39 (19, 20), Gross winner- Kumar Dhall 76gross, Lady winner- Nolly Patel 35 (15, 20), Men R/Up- Antony Mburu 39 (20, 19), Men third- Chege Gitura 37 (21, 16), Junior winner- Kibugu Kagwe 29 (17, 12). nike air max thea schwarz nike air max thea schwarz