Over 160 golfers took part in the Toyota Kenya golf tourney

By Maarufu Mohamed

Ally Jamal posted a sterling 39 stableford points score to wrest the overall title during the Toyota Kenya Golf tournament at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club in Mombasa.

Jamal, a handicap 25 golfer, started on a sour note dropping two successive bogey shots on the first par five and the second par four holes before recovering to roll a level par on the shortest par three, third hole.

The par four-fourth hole was even harder, and Jamal found himself dropping down the log with a double bogey shot and two successive bogey shots on the par five-fifth and the par three–sixth holes.

Trouble was not over as Jamal at the par four-seventh hole where he dropped another double bogey shot and scratched the par four-eighth hole before finally closing the outward par four-ninth hole with a dropped bogey shot for a 12 overs.

Bogey Shots

He returned in the inward nines posting successive bogey shots on the shortest par three-tenth, par five-eleventh, par four-12, par four-13, par four –15 and the par three-15 holes.

He loosen the grip on the clubs and paid the prize on par four-sixteenth, which he missed, rolling twice out of the cup for a double bogey shot.

“The greens was fast and slippery and I could not believe my victory,” said Jamal.

The event attracted over 160 golfers from coast based golf clubs — Nyali, Mombasa, Leisure, Vipingo and Malindi with a few guests players invited by the sponsor.

Handicap 22 Ushwin Khana had to rely on a count back score of 37 to emerge the men’s winner after tying with handicap 17 Wanyonyi Chebukati.

Peter Talbot playing off handicap 18 shot 36 points to take the third slot, a point ahead of handicap 18 Mohamed Bhai Essa, who tied with handicap 12 Dominic Makau for fourth and fifth spots respectively.

The Lady winner was handicap 17 Wambui Warui on a count back score of 37 points after tying with handicap 23 Kellen Weku. Handicap 26 Pia Swatton was third placed on a score of 35 points.

National golf junior and School boy Daniel Nduva playing off handicap five was the best Junior on a score of 37 points and handicap 14 Mahendra Shah shot 32 points to claim the senior prize.

Benjamin Koyier who had 27 points was the Staff Winner while the guest prize went to Fleur Van Driest on 38 points.

Meanwhile, the fourth round for the KCB East African Golf Tour tees off at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club Wednesday with over 30 professionals registered.

“The number of Pros has increased effectively giving big numbers to the various tournaments that are staged across the country,” Rizwan Charania, the chairman of Professional Golfers  said.