A golfer follows his tee during the NCBA Golf Series held at Limuru Country Club recently.

By AMANDA DAMARIS

NCBA Golf Series tournament resumes this weekend with the scenic Mombasa Golf Club set to host the latest leg on Saturday.

Preparations for the tournament are about to complete with over 150 golfers from the region expected to tee off at the historical golf course, also known as the “front course.”

The golfers will enjoy their play at the 9-hole course that overlooks the Indian Ocean and stretches of white sand beaches. It is one of the oldest golf courses in Kenya, founded back in 1911 and despite its scenic beauty, the course has a reputation among golfers as a tricky course.

The golfers will battle it out for slots to play at the series’ Grand Finale, where top finishers will win an all-expenses-paid trip to South Africa’s Fancourt Country Club.

Speaking ahead of the event, NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora stated:

“As we embark on the homestretch of the 2022 NCBA Golf Series we are pleased to be heading to the Coast this weekend. This follows the success of the previous thirteen events that have included junior tournaments. The weather at the Coast presents a different challenge for our golfers, making this outing one look forward to,” said Gachora.

“We are looking forward to taking on the challenge that the golf club offers and trust that all golfers will enjoy themselves on the course. We are delighted about the impact that this golf series has had so far as we have been able to reach over 3,000 golfers which is exactly what we aimed to achieve,” he added.

The Mombasa event follows the thirteenth leg held a fortnight ago at Limuru Country Club where home player Wambui Gitonga carded a round of 40 points to claim the win in the division one category.

Among the lady golfers, 12-year-old junior Mumbi Gatu, playing off handicap 31, carded a round of 35 points to fend off his challengers to emerge as the lady winner.

Margret Njoki of Golf Park putts at a recent event.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Fresh from winning the Kenya Ladies Open Amateur Matchplay Championship last weekend, Mercy Nyanchama will be back in action on Saturday for the 83^rd edition of the Eileen Belcher tournament at her home course Vet Lab Golf Club.

Nyanchama who beat Nancy Wairimu 3/2 last weekend will once again come up against her tough opponent in the 54-hole competition which has attracted 96 lady golfers playing foursomes match play off-scratch for all three divisions. Other top players expected to give Nyanchama a run for her money include home player Agnes Nyakio, youngster Chanelle Wangari and faith Chemutai of Nandi Bears.

The two-day event which was originally known as the Inter District Cup has attracted 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 will be 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 will be feted with the Eileen Belcher Trophy and must be players whose handicap index range from +5.0 to 14.0.

The Sinclair Quaich award will present to the winners of Division B whose handicap index ranges between 11.3 and 20.4, while the Palmer Trophy will be 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.