Golf: Nakuru Golf Club turns 90 this year

Former Nakuru Golf Club Chairman/Captain Moses Kiragu follows his tee-shot at the par 72 course, August 18, 2019. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Lawrence Nganga, who scored 38 stableford points, won the overall prize in the inaugural All Captains Prize golf tournament at the par 73 Nakuru Golf Club, over the weekend.

Nganga, a member of Thika Sports Club and playing off handicap 21, had a par-less outward nine with eight back-to-back bogeys on the par-4 first, second, par-3 fifth, par-4 sixth, seventh and eighth. he had one double bogey on the par-5 ninth.

On his inward nine, he started off on the wrong footing with a no-return on the par-4 10th but immediately bounced back with a bogey on the par-4 11th before sinking his only pars for the day on the par-4 12th and par-5 13th.

He, however, dropped shots on the subsequent holes; a par-4 14th and par-3 15th to chalk his only double-bogeys for the day.

He then bogeyed the next two holes, a long par-5 16th and a par-3 17th before inking his best score for the day on the par-5 18th where he sank a birdies to claim victory over a huge field of 124 golfers.

The All Captains Prize golf tournament was presented by Menengai Drilling company, Crater Automobile and past captains of the club and hosted by current captain Hillary Korir.

The tournament was to honour and appreciate both past men and lady captains of the club as it also had their 90th year anniversary.

“I started off easy despite being the last flight, a three-ball. No one thought it was going to turn-out this way. I mean, the win from our group.” said Nganga.

“We had to stop playing and seek shelter after it started raining, which actually changed the dynamics of play and condition.”

“The course was playing so well. In fact, I was shocked to find the Nakuru course still lush green, which enhanced my short-game as it gave me an easy time with my chipping unlike most of the other courses that are already drying up.” he added.

Meanwhile at the par 72 Machakos Sports Club, club chairman Sawarn Singh, playing off handicap 14, led by example winning Madison Golf day on a score of 39 stableford points.

Handicap 33 Nairamas ole-sein donned the Ladies gong on a score of 34 stableford points with MN Kinuthia winning the Guest prize.