By Maarufu Mohamed
An all caddies’ team of Wilson Atuka, Charles Sire, Ronald Omariba and Pauni Gwerenya stunned golfers to win the seventh leg of the Dasani Golf Gala at the par 72 Leisure Golf and Country Club on Saturday.
Playing off handicap 11, Omariba anchored the winning team with a personal score of 37 stableford points as they amassed a total of 98 points to win and automaticlly qualify for the tournament’s Grand Finale in Karen Golf and Country Club on September 29.
He posted 19 points in the front nine before posting 18 points in the back nine after picking two birdies on the par five hole two and par three hole five. Wilson Atuka, playing off handicap six, had 31 points, while handicap three Charles Sire contributed 30 points to the group and Pauni Hassan Gwerenya playing off handicap 24 was the team’s weakest link on 27 points.
“It is a good result and I would like to thank my sponsor because without him, I could not have played today,” said Omariba.
The one-day stableford tournament that attracted 92 golfers from the host club in Kwale County and Vipingo Ridge Golf Club in Kilifi County, is sponsored by Coca-Cola under the banner of Dasani.
Gansham Kumar, Stephan Wentzel, Sabina Funk and Aussi Mike, who managed a team score of 92 points, finished were the second best at the tournament. Kumar, playing off handicap 19, had 32 points while Wentzel, playing off handicap 11, had 32 points. Handicap 19 Funk amassed 28 points with Mike being the weakest link on 27 points.
guest winner
Laura Lottko (29), Lukas Shikanda (26), Robert Kazungu (30) and Ali Chikumbo (31) scored a total team score of 90 points to claim the reserve slot. Sylvester Odhiambo of Mombasa Sports Club, playing off handicap 14, was the tournament’s guest winner on 35 points, while William Kaguta had the men’s longest drive prize after recording 222m.
Cheryl Bush won the ladies’ longest drive prize after registering 150m and Wanyoni Chebukati won the nearest to the pin on 53cm.
Coastal Bottlers Coca-Cola Key Accounts manager Rachel Mbogho, said the grand prize this year will see the winning team of four players travel to Dubai. Action moves to Royal Nairobi Golf Club next week for the eighth leg where eight more qualifiers would be picked.
