A golfer follows his tee shot during the Vet Lab Sports Club leg of the Johnnie Walker Golf Series at the weekend.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The team of Henry Kamuti, Deep Shah, Joseph Karanja and Chirag Shah carded an impressive combined score of 115 points to emerge the winners of the first leg of the Johnnie Walker Golf Series held at VetLab Sports Club.

Their nearest challenger was the team comprising Priscilla Karobia, Rachel Ndei, Cleopas Bor and Mark Karobia who scored a combined 113 points to claim the runner-up position. Claiming the third and final qualifying position was the team of Caroline Muguku, Onesmas Kibuna, Phillip Gow and Anik Patel who scored a combined total of 108 points.

The top three teams’ stellar performances has seen them become the first sides to qualify for the next round of the Series dubbed “Road to Gleneagles.”

Meanwhile, handicap 20 Michael Kinuthia scored a total of 40 points to claim the top prize in the Men’s category ahead of handicap 31 Charles Gichobi who carded a round of 40 points.

In the Ladies’ category, handicap 25 Priscilla Karobia posted a score of 41 points to emerge the winner, 3 more ahead of handicap 28 Caroline Muguku who ended the round with 38 points.

In the nines, Innocent Nyakwara playing off handicap 23 finished the round with 21 points to emerge the winner in the first nine, with Aleem Manji, playing off handicap 25 claiming the top honors in the second nine with a haul of 22 points.

In the Longest drive challenge, Hellen Manyara and Allan Mugisha emerged respective winners in the ladies’ and men’s categories respectively.

The VetLab Sports Club event attracted over 100 players, who played in the tournament’s stableford, fourball format.

The top three teams will now compete in the semi-final round (Eagle Round) as they seek to play in the Grand Finale to compete for the coveted prize.

The qualifying rounds of the series will traverse several golf clubs in the country and will, for the first time, incorporate professional golfers who will have a chance to enhance their competitiveness.

Speaking at the inaugural tournament, Josephine Katambo, Senior Brand Manager at Kenya Breweries Limited said the series is aimed at supporting the sport of golf in the country, and offering golfers a chance to showcase their skills.

“The series is a continuation of Johnnie Walker’s commitment towards supporting the growth and development of golf in Kenya by offering golfers, both professional and amateur, a chance to play. This is in line with the company’s close affiliation with sport as a powerful avenue for interaction, both amongst lovers of Johnnie Walker and with the brand itself,” said Katambo.

She added: “This Series will be an exciting tournament that will offer something for everyone. For golfers, they can compete for an opportunity to win an all-expenses paid trip to Gleneagles, one of the world’s very best golf courses. For non-golfers, we are offering a unique Johnnie Walker experience, to socialize and to network at the events.”

The series now moves to Thika Greens Golf Club on Saturday, November 27th.

Ruiru Sports Club’s Mary Wambui poses with the overall winner’s trophy of her home club’s leg of the NCBA Golf Series on Saturday, November 20, 2021.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Ruiru home player Mary Wambui carded a round of 42 points to top the leader board and emerge overall winner at the penultimate event of the 2021 NCBA Golf Series at Ruiru Golf Club.

Playing off handicap 32, Wambui became the second lady golfer to be crowned overall winner across the Series which teed-off in January this year. She joins an illustrious list of 20 other overall winners in the Series – which has now featured 21 seniors’ events and one junior golf tournament.

Her effort saw her brush off the charge by fellow club mate, Samuel Njuguna – playing off handicap 15, who also carded a round of 42 points to emerge the winner in the men’s category. Njuguna finished the round two points better than Joseph Kamiri, playing off handicap 19, who carded 40 points to emerge runner-up in the men’s classification.

In the ladies’ category, Ruth Kamau, playing off handicap 13, was crowned the winner with a score of 42 points ahead of Catherine Gitonga who ended the round with 42 points to claim the runner-up position in the category.

In the nines, Thagichu Kiiru, playing off handicap 18, and Mwangi Mukururi, playing off handicap 25, bagged the bragging rights in the first and second nines respectively with 23 points apiece.

Among the NCBA Group staff, Tirus Mwithiga – Group Director for Retail Banking playing off handicap 18, was crowned best of the rest having carded a round of 34 points. He now has a hattrick of ‘staff winner’ triumphs in the Series. Meanwhile, junior golfer George Wandera, playing off handicap 33, was crowned the best in his category after carding a round of 20 points.

In the longest drive contest, Charity Njoroge was crowned the winner among the lady golfers as Willy Biwott claimed the top honours among the men. In the nearest-to-the-pin contest, Sylvester Ondiek was crowned the winner.

222 golfers took to the course taking the total number of golfers to feature in the tournament to 2, 822. The top five finishers at the event – overall winner, men winner and runner-up and ladies’ winner and runner-up – join 100 other golfers who have qualified to play at the Series’ grand finale which will be held at the Karen Country Club on December 3rd this year.

The tournament will conclude with a second junior golf tournament that will be staged at the Muthaiga Golf Club from the 9th to the 10th of December this year.