Golf: Imbugwa braves heavy rains to win VetLab Captain prize

Adam Nyaga in the Captains Prize 2020 at Vet Lab Sports Club. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Handicap 16 Nicholas Imbugwa won the overall Vet Lab Sports Club Captain (Adam Nyaga) 2020 title on a differential score of 39 points.

Imbugwa silenced a field of 346 golfers who took part in the two-day tournament.

Play was suspended on the second day after the greens were rendered unplayable due to heavy rains that pounded the par-72 course.

The tournament was presented by Vet Lab Sports Club, East African Breweries Limited (EABL), NCBA, Sense of Africa, Smart Auto, Omega Apparels, Maroo Paints, I&M Bank, Communications Authority of Kenya, Safaricom and Barcardi.

Others were Roamtech/Betika, Nuvem Tech, Lerrut Log, Anka Resort Nanyuki, Enashipai Resort, Multichoice, Mayfair Insurance, Sarova Hotels, Heineken, Coca-Cola and Novel Golf Shop.

“I was out to enjoy my round of golf and played reasonably well on day one. And today was one of those days when every aspect of the game falls into place. I’m elated with the final outcome.” said Imbugwa.

Coming in second was handicap 1 Isaac Makokha who garnered 37 stableford points finishing second to edge out Men winner Zack Koech playing off handicap 8 on countback having returned a similar score of 37 stableford points.

Handicap 21, Margaret Wairimu was the Lady winner on score of 32 stableford points with  Limuru Country Clubs’ P Kinyanjui winning Guest winner prize on a score of 32 stableford points.

Veteran golfer Steve D'souza, playing off handicap 6, won the Senior prize on a score of 31 stableford points.

"It’s great that corporates are slowly coming back with sponsorships to such tournaments. That shows we are getting back on our feet after the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said The Standard Group CEO Orlando Lyomu.

“People need to be careful though as it seems we are in the second phase of the pandemic which is bigger and worse based on the current rate of infections and fatalities. We cannot afford to put our guard down.” he added.

In the commercials; Edgar Brian and Patricia Wangongu took the Longest Drive Men and Lady winner prizes respectively. As Mwambu Malamba missed a BMW 523i series sedan hole-in-one prize but was concerted with the Closest to Pin prize.

20 professional golfers battled it out for a share of Sh200,000 prize fund in the curtain raiser Pro-Am event played on Friday which saw Pro Greg Snow claim the Lion’s share of Sh35,000 on 71 Gross beating Pro Mike Kisia on countback with a similar score of 71 Gross as another home pro Edwin Mudanyi came in third with 74 Gross.

John Wambari playing off handicap 10 was the best Junior golfer on a score of 35 stableford points ahead of another junior handicap 4 Steve Orinda who returned a similar score of 35 stableford points.

Away at Thika Sports Club, Handicap 17 Peter Gachoka on a score of 39(20+19) stableford points won Captain (Edward Nyamu) 2020 tournament title which saw 181 golfers take part.

Men's winner prize was won by a handicap 17, Peter Gachoka on a score of 39(21+18) stableford points with handicap 22 Chris Wanyoike settling for Men winner second on 37(18+19) stableford points.

Handicap 24 Eunice Muthemba bagged Lady winner prize on a score of 32(20+12) stableford points a point better than Margaret Maina playing off handicap 20 who took Lady winner second prize on score of 31(15+16) stableford points.

Taking the Sponsor's prize on a score of 36(19+17) stableford points, was a handicap 36 S Wambugu as Guest prize went to handicap 16 Paul Kiarie on a score of 35(16+19) stableford points.

While in the Nines; Wanjau Gathuri took the First Nine with 20 stableford points as Engineer John Maina was the Second Nine winner with 19 stableford points.

In the Longest Drive Men category A Mwaura won as Judy Waihenya took Longest Drive Lady winner prize as Martin Kiambi claimed Nearest to Pin Men prize.