Adel Balala after being crowned Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championships winner at Nakuru Golf Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Nyali Golf Club’s Adel Balala continued with his fine form as he beat a strong field to be declared this year’s winner of the Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championships at the Nakuru Golf Club over the weekend.

Playing off handicap -4, Balala who recently also won the Kabete Open tournament at Vet Lab Club, posted an overall score of seven under par 285 (69, 72, 72, 72) after 72 holes, to rule the roost.

Michael Karanga of Ndumberi Golf Club playing off handicap -4 was second in the competition after playing four under par 288 (74, 68, 74, 72), while John Lejirma of Kenya Railways Golf Club playing off handicap -3, was third on two under par 290 (70, 74, 73, 73) and handicap 2 Elly Barno also of Nandi Bears Golf Club finished fourth in the competition on a gross score of 295 (76, 74, 73, 72).

The win in Nakuru has seen Balala open a seven points lead at the top of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championships ranking table after the Strokeplay competition, while Karanga and Lejirma follow in the second and third positions on the table respectively.

The tournament in Nakuru attracted a total of 66 players, where Kenya had 57 particiapnts, Uganda (5), UAE (3) and Rwanda (1).

“The Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship was first held in Kenya since 1978 and was first won by J. Gitau from Sigona Golf Club. The event has over the years been played in October around the 20th to celebrate the late President of the republic of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta,” said Kenya Golf Union Chairman’s Speech-Peter Kiguru.

He added: “We appreciate the players who have over the years been part of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship Series. We could not achieve all this without you. The winner of this event-Adel Balala has an automatic slot to participate in the upcoming Magical Kenya Open. The other slots are for the winner of the Kenya Amateur Matchplay Championship – John Lejirma, Winner of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship series – to be announced in December after the last event, two top juniors and one wild card to be determined by the Union.”

Deo Akope with the winner’s trophy at Nyali Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Two birdies at the last two holes of the final round so Uganda’s Deo Akope clinch the fourth leg of the 2021/2020 Safari Tour Golf series at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club course on Wednesday.
Before his back to back birdies enroute home, Akope, one of the most experienced professional golfers in Uganda and East Africa and who also doubles up as the resident professional at Uganda Golf Club Kitante and the captain of the professional Golfers Association of Uganda, had picked up a double bogey at the 417‐yards par four‐16th hole.
“I had a bad approach shot at the 16th which resulted in a double bogey but my caddie Amos encouraged me and told me to forget about the hole and focus on the remaining two holes. I am happy because I made two good birdies and in particular the down‐hill one at the 18th. I am excited because this is the first win for a Ugandan in the Safari Tour, and its encouragement for the rest of the Ugandan pros who are members of the safari and who look up to me’’ said Akope.
He had dropped one shot at the first nine’s seventh hole, while before his double‐bogey six at the 16th, he had birdied the 15th. “ I have played on this course for many years first as an amateur and later as a professional but I have not been very lucky. Winning here on under is very refreshing and encouraging’’ added Akope who missed the third leg at the Great Rift after failing to register for the tournament before the deadline and whose level par 71 in the final round gave him a four rounds total of two under par 282, to take home Sh314,348 which included bonus money of Sh104,348.

Deo Akope gives the winners speech at Nyali Golf and Country Club today.

He beat senior pro Dismas Indiza and Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige by two shots. Indiza, fired also fired level par 71 in the final round for a total of level par 284 to tie with Ngige in the second place. He had four birdies and an equal number of bogeys for the day. Akope thanked the Safari Tour and Nyali Golf and Country Club for keeping the course in great condition, saying the tour has general improved and that is shown by the way the players have been scoring lately.
“I am happy I was able to catch up with these young men, though I did not play the way I real wanted’’ said Indiza who is still chasing his first title this season. Ngige on the shot two over par which included a bogey at the par three‐18th where he shot to the right rough, followed with a poor roll to the greens.
Coming to the 18th Ngige was at par with Akope and he need a birdie also to force a play off.
He birdied one hole at the front nine and also dropped a shot, to level the first nine, while he started the back nine with two quick bogeys at the 10th and 11th with only one shot recovered at the 17th. Tying in fourth place was Erick Ooko, Mutahi Kibugu and third leg winner David Wakhu on two over par 286. The youngster Taimur Malik clinched the amateur title though with a poor 13 over 297.
A total of 22 players had made the six over par second round cut in the event which had attracted a field of 65 professionals drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Rwanda. The tour now takes a shot break with the next event being the Uganda Open which has now been moved from Uganda Golf Club to the Entebbe Golf Club from December 2.

THE FINAL LEADER BOARD AFTER NYALI LEG:
Deo Akope(Ug)                     282 (75, 68, 68, 71)
Dismas Indiza                       284 (72, 70, 71, 71)
Simon Ngige                          284 (70, 71, 70, 73)
Erick Ooko                             286 (70, 75, 72, 69)
Mutahi Kibugu                      286 (71, 74, 69, 72)
David Wakhu                         286 (73, 72, 68, 73)
Robson Chinhoi (Zim)        289 (72, 68, 75, 74)
Tranos Muradzikwa (Zim) 289 (72, 73, 71, 73)