Zimbabwe golfer Nyasha Muyambo with the winners’ prize at Limuru Club on Wednesday.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Zimbabwe golfer Nyasha Muyambo is the Leg Two winner of the Safari Tour Series held at the Par 72 Limuru Country Club after amassing 282 total with an under 6 to a par score.

The 33-year-old Pro player with Chapman Golf Club in Harare closed Day 4 with an impressive 69 score having struggled on day two having posted 75. On Day One, the debutant winner [WK1] who took home 60 points and Shs 300,000 had a score of 71 on the board. It was a double joy for Team Zimbabwe who had Visitor Mapwanya finishing the leg second placed with a score of 287 and one under par with a cheque token of Shs 200,000 plus 48 points in the bag.

Speaking to the Press afterwards during the Award ceremony, the soft-spoken Muyambo was elated

with his overall play reserving special praise for his teammates Robson Chinhoi and Visitor

Mapwanya. ‘‘There is always a first time for everything and today I am extremely happy with my

performance, especially with the push by my teammates. My putting and pinpoints were great and thus helped my game. I want to thank the other players for a great showing and they pushed me well. I wish to thank the Safari Tour Management and the Limuru Club for a great tournament. My focus is on working hard to make the cut for the Kenya Open so I look forward to the Vipingo Series that is next online.’

Mapwanya amassed 48 points and Sh 200,000 having had two brilliant outings on Day 1 and Day 4. On the opening day, he had 69 scores but had a terrible two days following with 75 and 76 next before closing out on 67 to emerge with a total 287 score. Kenya’s top player was Mike Kisia of VetLab Club who finished on level par after a joint 288 score alongside Robson Chinhoi.

Kisia had an indifferent run in the four days with a score of 75 on Day 1 and then 24 hours later he

posted 69 on the board. The former VetLab Open winner then had a score of 73 on Day 3 and eventually a 71 score on the final day. His last nine holes on the last day were his recovery after starting out badly on the greens.

Zimbabwean Chinhoi who was fourth overall but tied on 288 points, had an unstable tournament after the first leg in the Uganda Open where he won last month with a score of 277 and 11 under par. The 31-year-old who also calls Royal Harare Golf Club home, was sluggish after his outing in Limuru which saw him on a Par + 3 finish. ´Obviously, it is disappointing but it is what it is. I did my best out there but somehow my putting was not that good. The course was tricky for me  even though the previous days were solid.”

Safari Tour Series Limuru Ranking List

1.Nyasha Muyambo 282

2.Visitor Mapwanya 287

3.Mike Kisia 288

4.Robson Chinhoi 288

5.Mutahi Kibugu 289

Eileen Belcher trophy winners celebrate during the prize giving ceremony.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Vet Lab’s Frankie Gichuru lead her Green Zone team to be crowned this year’s winners of the coveted Eileen Belcher trophy at the Vet Lab Golf Club at the weekend.

The team comprising recently crowned Kenya Ladies Open Amateur Matchplay Champion Mercy Nyanchama, Agnes Nyakio, Joyce Wanjiru, Wanjiru Karume, Belinda Wanjiru, youngster Chanelle Wangari and Frankie Gichuru who was the team captain, amassed 16 points to rule the roost at the 83^rd edition of the competition. The convenor of the group was Patricia Wangongu.

In Division B, the team captained by Rachel Ndei also of Vet Lab and leading another Green Zone side were feted with the Sinclair Quaich trophy after managing 13 points. Other members of the team were Dorcas Mukabi, Grace Wanjohi, Hellen Manyara, Mille Nyaga, Carol Kibanya and Lucy Maina.

Susan Koinange captained her Yellow Zone team to the Division C title, winning the Palmer Trophy with 14 points. Members of her team included Irene Kimeu, Nelius Kariuki, Jane Nzibo, Sarah Mkok, C. W. Mungai and Minie Mbue.

The 54-hole competition attracted a total of 96 lady golfers who played foursomes match play off-scratch in all three divisions. The two-day event which was originally known as the Inter District Cup has been a key local event for women’s golf as it attracts lady golfers from all over the country.

The cup was presented by Eileen in 1937 to encourage match-play between the districts. Belcher was the first Chairman of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) and over the years, the format has changed and is currently played in four zones. Each of the four zones is made up of several clubs forming a team of three pairs, with one reserve.

The scoring during the competition was two points for a match won and one point for a match halved. Since 2021 the clubs have been zoned in four categories, Red Zone (Royal, Sigona and Western Region), Green Zone (Vetlab, Windsor, Railway and Central Region), Yellow Zone (Muthaiga, Limuru and Coast Region) and Blue Zone (Karen, Golf Park and Rift Valley Region).
The winners of Division A whose players’ handicap index range from +5.0 to 14.0 were feted with the Eileen Belcher Trophy.

The Sinclair Quaich award is presented to the winners of Division B whose handicap index ranges between 11.3 and 20.4 and the Palmer Trophy is presented to winners of Division C whose handicap index range from 20.5 to 28.9. The competition is played off a scratch handicap.

The Sinclair Quaich was presented by Mary Sinclair, KLGU Chairman 1984. The Palmer Trophy was presented by Edward Palmer, in 1982, when his daughter Susan Harworth was KLGU Chairman. Edward Palmer is Eileen Belcher’s younger brother.