Chebii stages brilliant show at NSE and Mtech contest in Kitale

Kiprono Kittony, Chairman NSE teeing off during a golf tournament jointly sponsored by Nairobi Securities Exchange and MTECH Limited at Kitale Golf Club on Sunday 12th of December 2021.[photo courtesy]

Nandi Bears Club’s Michael Chebii fired 39 stableford points to win the Nairobi Securities Exchange and Mtech golf tournament at the par 73 Kitale Golf Club on Saturday.

Playing off handicap 28, Chebii braved the sunny weather conditions and windswept 18-hole course to beat 65 golfers.

Home golfer Ali Babuh, handicap 14, returned second with 38 stableford points as Kitale-based lawyer Aggrey Kidiavi, handicap 24, finished third with 37 points.

Standard Group CEO Orlando Lyomu, National Securities Exchange chairman Kiprono Kittony, Kenya Seed Company (KSC) Managing Director Fred Oloibe and Kakamega based medic Dr James Akhonya were in action. 

The picturesque environment along the course -with monkeys on the gazing on the trees -fostered a pristine ambiance that almost robbed the golfing contest of the time keeping habits it’s often associated with

Lyomu said: “It was hot here. Kitale golf course is different from the rest of the courses across the country. The obstacles forced me to take time to understand how to tackle it. The greens were also rough.”

Lyomu’s close challenger, former Mt Elgon MP Joe Kimkung, said:  “This is my first time to play on this course. Though it has been enjoyable, we had a fair share of challenges. It was competitive.” 

Meanwhile, home golfer Adel Balala won the 2021 Kenya Amateur Golfer of the Year title on Sunday.

Balala consolidated 813 points from 22 competitions of the Kenya Golf Union series spread across the country. 

His coronation came after his victory at the 2021 Nyali Open Kenya Amateur Golf Championship at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club course on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Balala broke the amateur’s course record eight under par 205 gross after producing a 68, 69 and a 68 gross in the three rounds of the two-day tournament to emerge the overall gross winner.

The Nyali Open showpiece marked the last competition of the 22 golf series of the 2021 Kenya Golf Union (KGU) calendar in which amateurs earned points towards the Golfer of the Year title and made the cut to 2022 Kenya Open Championship.

Balala has won the Winston Churchill tournament at the Thika Sports Club, Trans Nzoia Open in Kitale, Kabete Open at Vet Lab Sports Club and Barry Cup at Mombasa Golf Club.

Balala, who is ranked 171 in the world, travelled on Sunday night to participate in the 2021 Abu Dhabi Amateur Golf Championship that tees off today.

“I thank God for the wins. I am grateful to emerge the 2021 champion. I would also like to thank my father Taufiq Balala for supporting me in golf since I was three years old. Golf is not about winning but breaking records. I hope the Kenya Open will be won by a Kenyan amateur for the first time,” said Balala.

His closest challenger John Lejirma of Kenya Railways managed 215 gross to emerge runners up while Ndumberi’s Michael Karanga was third with 216 gross and lies third in amateur rankings with 635 points.

Limuru’s Paul Muchangi, who is second in amateur rankings with 708 points, was the Best Gross winner in the first 18 holes with 72 gross. Mombasa Golf club’s Henry Kamau with 74 gross and Nyali’s John Timbe on count back with 69 gross were Gross winners of the second and third rounds respectively.

Vet Lab’s Sports Club emerged Kenya Amateur Club of the Year with 697.2 points while Kenya Railways Golf Club (638.4) and Nandi Bears Golf Club (408.8) were second and third respectively.