By Maarufu Mohamed

Sullivan Muthugia, 26, of Thika Golf Club won the Coast Open after beating 96 top amateur golfers from the East African region with a total of 146 gross points.

Muthugia, who plays off scratch, led from the first round on Saturday on level par, completed the final round on Sunday with four over par 75 gross at Mombasa Golf Club.

On Sunday, Muthugia pared nine holes, bogeyed five, and picked birdies on three holes and a double bogey on hole 13. "My drive and putting were good, but chipping let me down due to the complicated pin positions. I thank God for winning," he said.

Sullivan Muthugia during the Coast Open Golf tournament at Mombasa Golf Club at the weekend.

Photo: Maarufu Mohamed/Standard

Muthugia leads the KDN Golfer Of The Year (Goty) series on 48.25 points, and is expected to turn professional by the end of this year. Handicap +2 Collins Omondi of Muthaiga was the runner-up on 148 gross, after playing three over on Saturday and the same on Sunday, while Hesbon Kutwa of Royal was third overall on a total of 151 gross points.

Omondi parred eight holes, picked four birdies, bogeyed five holes and had a double bogey on hole 11.

Kenya Data Networks and Crown Berger Kenya Limited sponsored the championship.

Results: Winner; Sullivan Muthugia (Thika)-146, r/up; Collins Omondi (Muthaiga)-148,third-Hesbon Kutwa (Royal) handicap winner-Robinson Owiti (Vet Lab)-143 c/b, Handicap r/up-Daniel Nduva (Nyali)-143, handicap third Gurbux Singh (Nyali)-144 c/b, best gross score Saturday John Karanja (Limuru)-74 c/b, best gross score Sunday-F Roman (Moshi)-75 c/b, best nett score Saturday-Aniz Popat (Nyali)-69 c/b, best nett score Sunday-M Kumar-70.

Meanwhile, lady golfer-of-the-year Mary Karano retained the 36-hole Telkom Ladies Open title at the Vet Lab Golf Club, add James Waindi.

Karano playing off handicap five posted 153 gross to reign supreme. Former Kenya Ladies Golf Union chairperson, Lucie Maina, was the silver winner on 175 gross, while Margaret Njuguna won the bronze category on 186 gross.

David Kamau Snr was the subsidiary winner on 41 pts, while the guest prize went to Evans Maritim on 37 pts and Jane Karuku the longest drive prize. Njuguna won the nearest to the pin prize.

Nakuru: Shillen Nanji II and Wanjohi Wahome shot 44 points to win divisions A and B in the third event of the South Africa Tourism Golf Series .

Muthaiga: Junior Open sponsored by OiLibya, My Shop and Chicken Inn, 15-8 years winner-Gregory Okello 25pts; r/up-Dennis Mbatia 23pts; 9-11 years winner-Emmanuel Ndonga 26pts, r/rp-S Prashil 22pts; 12-18 years non-handicap winner-Marina Rozanski 33pts; r/up-Moses Gitonga 30pts c/b Edwin Wambua; handicap categories winner-Jasaraj Jandu 39pts, r/up-Murimi Kiuri 38pts; gross winner- Jay Patel 78 gross.

Limuru: Cycles of Greatness, men’s winner-J Maina 42pts, r/up- Craig Wakelin 39pts, lady winner-Grace Kiboro 43pts; guest winner- W Ngugi 35pts; 1st nine-Charles Kihara 22pts; 2nd nine- Martha Vincent 23pts; best effort- Jackson Muya 11pts.

Windsor: Mathira Charity, winner- Johana Muchai 42pts; r/up- J M Muigai 41pts; third- Humprey Maina 40pts; lady winner- Felista Mutinda 40pts; r/up- F Koki 37 pts c/b Jane Munene; longest drive man- Daniell Weru; longest drive lady- Mary Wainaina; nearest to the pin man- Isaac Githui; nearest to the pin lady- Felista Mutinda.