Evergreen Major General (retired) Peter Waweru fended off a stiff challenge from Mark Kirimi to claim his fourth Club Championship trophy staged at the par-72, Nanyuki Sports Club layout on Monday.
Waweru, playing off handicap 5, was up against an equally strong opponent, Kirimi, a former club Captain, playing off handicap 6, whom he was giving a stroke on the par-five seventh hole, a stroke index one.
The tense but balanced finals saw the two finish their round of 18 all-square and head into a two-hole play-off.
It was the epitome of one of golf's Greatest of All Time (Goat), Arnold Palmer, who once said, "With golf, the more you practice, the luckier you become."
Waweru practices more than he plays, hitting the range for two to three hours before taking to the course with his usual playing partners, Francis Mathenge and Captain Joe Kehara, for their daily friendly round, and from time to time with his match-play partner, Luka Mwangi, which paid off with his coveted win at his home course.
The 43-year-old championship is among the biggest competitions at the 100-year-old club formed in 1923.
He had won the same in 1998, 2004, 2005 and this year but is yet to equal or break Ayoob Ahmeds' record.
Ayoob won a record seven times in 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2011.
Earlier in 1993, Ahmed lost to Samir Amin after he developed a fever during the finals despite being the favourite to win then. Winning the rest in 2012, 2014, and 2015. Dr Kivungu Somba and Gabriel Miungi have won the title twice each.
"I'm happy that my record of seven wins as the club champion has never been broken, after all these years. I see General Waweru has his guns trained on doing it,” Ahmed told Standard Sports in a phone interview.
"I'm contemplating, coming out of my passive retirement to extend the record soon."
Kirimi and Waweru were all square after the 18th hole. They were tied again on the 19th hole but the 20th hole saw Waweru break away after he dialed in his second shot on the par-four hole to three feet off the pin.
Kirimi overshot the green into the greenside bunker from where he made a bogey while Waweru trickled in his birdie putt for the win as the legion of golfers who closely followed the final applauded.
"Having participated in previous Club Championships, this has been the best in terms of organization, competitiveness among the golfers, and a very gratifying win, so far," Waweru said in his speech.
In third place was Ramadhan Maulid with Kevin Gitonga settling for fourth place.
At Karen Country Club, the section of the caddies were all smiles as the club members presented them with a Sh1.1 million kitty which was doubled after 15 years towards their Christmas token.
It was the climax of the Caddies tournament presented by Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC) and represented by Joe Sang and its senior management team at the award ceremony.
The overall winner prize was won by Joseph Kioko with 79 Gross. The overall winner's second prize went to Walter Ombima, with 77 Gross while the Overall third prize was won by Joseph Olwali with 82 Gross.
In Division A, Reuben Njoroge won Best First Nine with 41 nett and Benson Kinyara won Best Second Nine with 37 nett.
Leading in Division B First Nine was Daniel Mutunga with 35 nett. Godfrey Kariuki won the Best Second Nine prize with 33 nett.
The best lady golfer in the First Nine prize was won by Milkah Wamaitha with a score of 39 nett while the Best Second Nine score was won by Salome Nyambura with 40 nett,
Best among the Staff golfers was Patrick Muteti who carded 75 nett with the Senior winner prize going to Ali Yahya on a score of 89 nett.
