KDF'S Maarifa stamps authority in Birth day tourney at Sea-link Course

Overall winner Mesaidi Maarifa follows her swing to the second greens during the ‘Maria@50’ golf tournament at Mombasa Golf Club course in Mombasa County on Saturday.[Maarufu Mohamed, Standard].

Kenya Defense Force’s (KDF) Mesaidi Maarifa stamped her to claim victory in a birthday golf tournament featured at the par 71 Sea- Link Mombasa Golf Course in Mombasa County on Saturday.

The Mtongwe based Kenya Navy Lady Golfer playing off handicap 31 who is also a member of the Club carded an excellent 44 stable ford points to emerge the overall winner in the day long 18 holes’ tourney beating a team of 160 golfers.

Maarifa’s victory came after sinking three rare birdies in addition to playing six level pars against mixed bogey shots for a 25 and 19 in both nines.

“Today has been good to me, getting some good birdies though the course was a bit challenging with tricky pin positions. But I was able to manage my game and was really excited to have bagged this overall trophy, “said Maarifa. 

The event ‘Maria@50’ golf day was marked and organized by the Club’s former Lady Captain Mary Mariga who is also the current Lady Captain for Nyali Golf and Country to celebrate her birthday.

Kamau kuria playing off handicap 21 was the Men winner on a count back score of 40 points after tying on the same points with runners up placed handicap 11 Tirus Githaiga while handicap 13 Joel Mochanga was third on 38 points.

The Club’s former Lady Captain Glady’s Kasi playing off handicap 19 returned 36 points to win the Lady’s title while her colleague handicap 26 Susan Mwangi on 35 points and handicap 34 Monica Kamundi with 34 points were the runners up and third respectively.

The Best senior prize was scooped by handicap 19 left handed golfer Elijah Ibua who carded 33 points and handicap 52 Randy Cheruiyot brought 20 points to win the junior prize.

Henry Kamau playing off handicap 0 played a level par 71 gross to win the Best gross prize while the Best Guest prize on 29 points was claimed by Simon Njuguna playing off handicap 14.

Birthday Lady Mary Mariga thanked all the golfers, sponsors and the Club for coming together to celebrate her birthday in style by playing a successful golf event and having an enjoyable day full of fun.

Club Captain James Gitonga in return thanked Mariga for opting to celebrate her birthday with friends at the Club and wished her more successful years.

Elsewhere at Machakos Country Club on the same day, James Ndunda playing off handicap 7 emerged the overall gross winner of the NCBA Golf series after returning 73 gross while the Men gross winner  was handicap 7 Jackson Nzioki  with 81 gross and handicap 38 Anthony Gitu  brought 63 nett to claim the Men nett prize.

The Lady Gross winner prize was won by handicap 13 Catherine Wambui after carding 94 gross and handicap 33 Beatrice Muthigani was the lady nett winner on 71 nett.

Chris Njuguna playing off handicap 31 brought 77 nett to win the Staff prize while handicap 23 Samuel Njuguna on 68 nett and handicap 7 Timothy Ruhiu with 74 nett were the guest and senior winners respectively.

And at Nyali Golf and Country Club Course also in the same day, handicap 22 Sam Muraya was the star of the day after carding an excellent 41 points to emerge the overall winner of the SBM Bank golf tournament and handicap 3 Andrew Wahome won the  best gross prize with a three over par 74 gross.

Overall winner Mesaidi Maarifa (left) poses with Mary Mariga during  the ‘Maria@50’ prize giving  day at Mombasa Golf Club house garden in Mombasa County on Saturday.[Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Aloise Ogola playing off handicap 15  brought a  two way count back score of 40 points to win the Men prize after tying on the same score with handicap 25 Murtaza Seed who the runners up and third placed handicap 25 Tom Abwao.

The Lady’s prize was won by handicap 33 Pauline Gichara who also had a count back score of 39 points, same points with runners up placed handicap 28 Nancy Gathunga and taking the third slot on 32 points was handicap 28 Rose Kinyanjui.

The Best Senior on 40 points and  best Junior with 38 points were won  by handicap 30 Rashid and handicap 18 Aydan Jamal respectively while Sandra Mundia playing off handicap 18 returned 35 points to win the Invited Coastal Clubs prize.

SBM Staff prize for men was claimed by handicap 22 Fredrick Yuaya after returning a score of 40 points and the same for the lady was scooped by handicap 46 Gladys Titi on 35 points.

Michael Irungu playing off handicap 16 was the Guest winner with 36 points and Kasim Sawa playing off handicap 31 went home with the High Handicappers prize after closing the day having recorded an excellent 41 points.