By Erick Ochieng’
Thika, Kenya: Betty Mutua produced a stunning round of golf to win the overall award of the Kenya Forest Service Golf Day tournament at Thika SportsClub on Saturday.
Playing off handicap 24, Mutua posted 20 points in the first nine and another 24 points in the second nine for an impressive score of 44 points during the event that attacted 184 golfers.
Mutua, who could not hide her joy of being the overall winner, attributed her impressive performance to lots of practice and playing in a great team that motivated her to play well.
Antony Kabucho, playing off handicap 16, was the men’s winner scoring 43 points (21+22).
Losing on count back to Kibucho to win the men’s runner up prize was handicap one Patrick Kingori with a total of 41 points.
The third men’s prize went to handicap 26 Dr Isaack Chirugu who returned a score of 40 points.
The ladies prize was won by handicap 36 Dorcas Njogu who scored 20 points on the first nine and 22 points in the 2nd nine for a total of 42 points.
Runner up
She was followed in second place by Eunice Mwangi who also scored 42 points but lost on count back to Njogu.
The guest prize was won by handicap 16 D Makau who scored 35 points, while the guest runner up was handicap 10 D. Muthungu with 24 points.
The junior award was won by handicap 11 Simon Ngugi who returned a score of 35 points.
The Senior Deputy Secretary Natural Resources, Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Onesmus F Kibuna won the Sponsors prize with 30 points (20+10) while Chief Communication Officer Charles Ngunjiri who is also the captain of Thika Sports Club was the runner up with 28 points.
Tree cover
Other winners were David Matano who won the nearest to the pin. Betty Ndenderu won the Longest drive ladies while Wainaina Njoroge won the longest drive men. The second nine prize was won by Handicap 20 Peter Ruku on 22 points while the first nine was handicap 28 Wayne Cook on 24 points during the event graced by Senior Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Onesmus Kibuna, Deputy Director Forest Extension Services Patrick Kariuki and Head Corporate Communications Anne Kaari.
Kibuna empasised the government’s efforts to increase national tree cover to ten per cent by 2030 and praised Thika Sports Club for its efforts to plant more trees.
The next KFS Golf day will be played at Nyanza Golf Club on June 7.
At the Kericho golf course on Saturday, handicap eight Virenda Chadha posted 16-17 in both nines for a total of 37 stableford points to emerge the overall winner of the Great Rift Golfing Society tournament.
Fred Koech, playing off handicap 24, was the first runner up on 36 points (23-13) while handicap six Paul Ichango from Royal Nairobi Club Nairobi settled for the second runners up on a score of 35 points (16-19).
Men’s winner prize was won by handicap 8 William kirui on 37 points (20-17) and the Lady winner was handicap 17 Rukiya Awan who had a score of 37 points (20-17).
Erastus Orina playing off handicap 15 was the first nine winner on 35 points (18-17) and the same for the second nine was won by handicap 13 Peter Serem on 28 points (9-19).
Kericho County amassed a total of 111 points to claim the County Shield in the event sponsored by Safaricom and Kaisugu Limited.
