Wafula excels as Dhutia rules the roost at CIO East Africa tournament in Nyali

Naomi Wafula displays her trophy after winning the KLGU Amateur Strokeplay at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club.

Sensational teenager Naomi Wafula was pushed to the wire at Kiambu Golf Club at the weekend despite winning the Craig Bowl Ladies tournament.

Kenya’s number one lady golfer, playing off handicap 3, posted 74 gross to edge out Jane Njoroge and Mary Karano on 72 gross. The decorated Wafula adds this title to the Kiambu Ladies Open title that she won on the same course in April.
Margaret Thande and Jayne Githere were victorious in the Bronze category, playing 93 and 94 gross respectively.

The tournament was organised by Kiambu Golf Club Lady Captain Grace Githere and sponsored by CIC Insurance.
Meanwhile, Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) held a successful Emergency General Meeting at the same venue where members drawn from 20 clubs voted unanimously to adopt the proposed resolutions that include giving the sitting and past lady captains voting rights in KLGU.

The members also gave KLGU chairlady Joyce Wafula the greenlight to proceed with formation of the Kenya Golf Federation which, in accordance with the new Sports Act, will house both KLGU and Kenya Golf Union and will be mandated to run golf in the country.

At the Karen Country and Golf Club, Clive Davis emerged the gross winner after he posted 77 points during the July Mug tournament, which was sponsored by Kenya Orient Insurance.

In Division A, Mark Ongom posted 71 nett to be declared the winner, albeit on count back after tying up with George Muturi. The best First-Nine title went to Phineas Miriti with 34 nett while the second nine was won by Jimmy Kimondo also on 34 nett.

In Division B, the winner was Alex Kabuga on 73 nett after count back. He had tied with Robert Mugo, who settled for second spot while the best First Nine was won by Hiram Ngaruiya on 32.5 nett. The second nine best player was Peter Waita on 34 nett.

James Maina posted 68 nett to win in Division C, edging out Mutu Gethoi on 71 nett. The guest winner was Rithari Ngatia 69 nett.

At the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club, Sanjeev Dhutia posted a sterling 42 stableford points to emerge the overall winner of the 2014 CIO East Africa golf tournament on Saturday.

In both fronts, Dhutia, playing off handicap 20, stretched up his muscles on the 6,509 yards courts to roll a total of eight level pars, after dropping six bogey shots and rounded up the rest of the holes with double bogey shots to beat a team of 115 golfers in the day-long, 18-hole tournament.

“This has been my greatest achievement since the start of the season, and hopefully I will continue to train hard for more victories and cut down my handicap,” said Dhutia.
CIO East Africa sponsored the tournament that attracted golfers from the home club, Mombasa, Leisure, Vipingo, Malindi golf clubs and guests of the sponsors with valid handicaps.

Atul Patel, playing off handicap 12, was the men’s winner on 39 points, beating handicap 17 Bhasker Patel to the Men’s runners up slot by a point difference.
Handicap 21 Fatma Mohamed was the lady winner on 38 points and handicap 27 Grace Gachoka settled for the runners-up slot on 37 points.

International Junior and national golf player Mathews Wahome, playing a single handicap 3, was declared the best junior of the day after amassing an excellent score of 38 points.