Karanja wins Golfer of the Year round

By Oscar Pilipili

Handicap three plus Joseph Karanja of Golf Park posted 215 gross to emerge overall winner in the Keringet Limuru Open which was a Golfer of the Year (Goty) points earning event.

Home player James Karanja managed 217 gross to finish second, while David Opati, who before this event was leading Kenya Golf Union Keringet Goty standings, finished third on 218 gross.

The victory earned the winner (Joseph) Karanja 12 Goty points while (James) Karanja gained 10.5 and Opati nine.

Other golfers who earned Goty points during the Keringet sponsored Limuru Open event are: Simon Mwangi (7.5), Francis Kimani (6) M Omondi (3.5) and gross round one winner E Ooko (3.5).

Gross round two winner A Chelogoi, playing off handicap four, and A Kinuthia playing off handicap four each scooped 0.75 Goty points during the event Saturday.

Nett round one winner was handicap 7 S Gatere on 72, while Dennis Maara playing off handicap four was the runner-up on 70 with R Njoroge playing off handicap four occupied third position on 70 nett. The prize of best junior went to handicap 14 Is Haq Agil who posted 227 nett

calm conditions

 In Muthaiga, Kamau Thugge, a handicap eight golfer, played the game of his life to emerge victorious at the PwC Corporate Golf Day.

With this victory, Thugge won a fully paid golf trip to the 2012 Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Sun City Golf Resort in South Africa. Playing in calm conditions, Thugge fired up the front nine, posting an impressive 2-under par gross score for a total of 24 points.

“I have been a member at Muthaiga for many years and I have played this golf course on several occasions, but this was the golf of my life,” Thugge commented after his round.

On the back nine, Thugge went easy on the gas pedal posting a 3-over par gross score for 19 points and a total of 43 points.

“I look forward to mingling with the world’s top stars at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and the prospect of playing at both the Gary Player Country Club and the Lost City Golf Course is exciting,” Thugge added.

 “This is definitely the best golf prize I have ever won, perhaps the best I may ever win,” he said

 Congratulating the winner, PwC’s Phil Kinisu said PwC was honored to have hosted the golfers. “PwC has not held a corporate golf day since 1997 and we are honored to have had such an exclusive group of golfers,” Kinisu said.

challenging course

“I would like to congratulate the winners, well done, this golf course may be in pristine condition but it is a very tough and challenging golf course; so well done to the winners.”

Muema Muindi, playing off a handicap-22, was the individual runner up with a commendable 38 points.

Muindi posted 17 points on the front nine and 21 points on the back nine.

The Longest Drive prizes were won by Darshan Chandaria and Betty Gacheru whilst the nearest to the pin prizes went to Neer Chandaria and Nancy Ndungu.

 The team winners were Darshan Chandaria, Neer Chandaria, Hassan Popat and Andrew Waititu with 35 points whilst the team of Irungu Macharia, Alf Gachaga, George Kuria and James Ondigo were the runners-up with 34 points.

 The prize for best effort went to MaryAnne Mwaura, a new up-coming lady golfer.

All golfers who managed to make par at the par-3 second hole, played from the professional blue tees, were recognized by the sponsors, receiving a special token.