Gondi and Mburu rule the roost in Muthaiga and Mombasa clubs as Kimondo stars in Karen

SPORTS-GOLF-LAKHANI AND NAOMI- London based Human Rights Activist Himat Lakhani (left) presents a prize to a Kenyan Lady Caddy Naomi Joseph at the Mombasa golf course on Saturday,07th February ,2015.Naomi was the lady winner on 184 gross during the 2015 East African Caddies Golf Championship played at Leisure and Mombasa golf courses.PHOTO BY MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD

Jimmy Kimondo took advantage of the home course to post 39 Stableford points and emerge the overall winner at the 13th edition of the ongoing 2014-2015 Kenya Airways Golf Safari tournament at the par 72 Karen Golf and Country Club, Nairobi, on Saturday.

Playing off handicap 10, Kimondo, who is the chairman of the club, did not leave anything to chance. He calculated his shots precisely to bring home a total of 11 level pars and eight dropped bogey shots on both nines to claim the amateur trophy and qualify for the tournament’s grand finale set for the Windsor Golf and Country Club on March 26.

For his feat, Kimondo received two return air tickets to any Kenya Airways destination in Africa.

“I’m extremely happy to win the event and plan to attend the forthcoming South African round that will be played at the Pecanwood Golf Club on February 26,” said Kimondo.

Others who qualified for the grand finale were handicap six Neil Cuthbertson, who shot 37 points to claim the Men’s prize.  Handicap 8 Louisa Gitau was the lady winner on 33 points.

 

SHARE VICTORY

In the Professional category that attracted 35 golfers, Railways’ home professional Njuguna Ngugi and his Windsor counterpart Rizwan Charania fought hard to share the victory after posting a round total of 143 gross each to pocket Sh60,200 each.

In joint third place were Stuart Cohen of Golf Park and Sigona’s Mathew Omondi with level par 144 and a cash prize of Sh36,400 each.

Kenya Airways CEO Mbuvi Ngunze said the Golf Safari was a favourable platform for Kenya to tap into sports tourism “which is a major industry globally”.

The last of the local event now heads to Royal Nairobi Golf Club on February 14.

At Muthaiga Golf Club, a fast rare birdie sunk in the opening par-four first hole was enough to steer Paul Gondi to victory in the 2015 Big Five Breweries tournament on Saturday.

Playing off handicap 20, Gondi teed off on a high note, sinking a birdie with his opening stroke, before adding five more level pars and a mixed pot of bogey shots on both nines of the 18 holes for 41 points (22-19) to emerge the overall winner of the day-long event that attracted 180 golfers.

FG Nganga, playing off handicap 18, was the men’s winner on 37 points (17-26), a point ahead of runner-up handicap 27 SM Njuguna.

Sonal Chandaria, playing off handicap 25, was the lady winner on 40 points (21-19), while Stella Macharia, playing off handicap 16, came second on 39 points (15-24).

The Guest prize was won by handicap 28 W Cook on 34 points (19-15), while handicap 7 Kishen Raghwani posted 34 points (13-21) to claim the Junior title at the event that also saw Bhavnish Chandaria, who posted a two over par 73 gross, emerge the Gross winner.

 

CADDIES CHAMPIONSHIP

At the par 71 Mombasa Golf Club, Kenya’s Samuel Mburu posted a round total of 155 gross to emerge the overall men’s winner of the 2015 East African Caddies Golf Championship.

The two-day, 36-hole tournament played at both Leisure Lodge and Mombasa Golf Club attracted 72 caddies from the East African region including hosts Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

It was sponsored by London-based East African born Himatt Lakhani, a golfer and human rights activist who runs a charity organisation in the United Kingdom.

John Said from Tanzania was the runner-up on 160 gross, while Uganda’s Hassan Kiyemba was third on 162 gross.

Kenyans swept the ladies’ titles. Naomi Joseph led a clean sweep in the ladies’ category. Joseph posted 184 gross to emerge the winner, while colleague Mary Gathoni was the runner-up on the same score.

Kenyans Charles Sire on 80 gross and Robert Njoroge on 77 gross were the best gross winners of the first and second rounds respectively.

Other Results:

Thika: Friends of the Captain Golf; Men’s winner: Ezra Ndenderu - 22+19=41; R/Up: Ayub Macharia - 23+18; Third: 15+24=39; Lady winner: Ann Mukiri - 18+22=40; R/Up: Margaret Maina - 23+17=40; Gross winner: Peter Nganga - 32pts; Guest winner: 1st Nine: Eng R Mwaura - 22pts; 2nd Nine: Ben Mahui - 21 pts; Victor Marete - 24+11=35.