Itemere stakes claim

By ERICK OCHIENG’

KENYA: Sammy Itemere emerged the overall winner of the annual Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) Charity tournament sponsored by Kenya Orient Insurance company at Royal Nairobi Golf Club over the weekend.

Playing off handicap 17, Itemere, who is the Equatorial Commercial Bank Managing Director, posted 19 points in the first nine and 18 at the back nine for a total of 37 to edge out Muchemi Ndungu and Stanley Kirui.

Ndungu posted 36 points and was only able to beat Kirui on count back to finish second with John Paul in third place with 35 points.

In the ladies section, former chairman of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union(KLGU) Dorcas Mbalanya beat Nelius Kariuki and Mary Kibuga on countback with 35 points. Njeri Mugo was fourth with a score of 34 points.

The charity golf tournament was organised in aid of two needy students — Velma Mwikali Kinyanjui of Machakos Girls’ and Lavina Amimo Indeche of Moi Girls’ Nairobi. Kenya Orient Insurance Limited, who have sponsored the KLGU for the past one year chipped in with Sh70,000.

Pledged support

The company’s Marketing Manager Gabriel Kuria pledged continual support to ladies golf for the next  three years in a sponsorship deal worth Sh10 million.

“We support KLGU and have sponsored the Rose Naliaka Academy and today we have also put Sh70, 000 toward these two bright girls’ education. Kenya Orient believes in developing sporting talent and supporting the needy through education,” said Kuria.

In Limuru, handicap nine M.Wanjea and handicap 13 I. Booker got a total score of 35 stable ford points to win the Teflon Greensome Challenge finals at the Limuru Country Golf Club at the weekend.

The winners were awarded an all-expenses paid trip to a golf resort in Johannesburg, South Africa for four nights. The winner’s package also included two complimentary rounds of golf at the resort, which is yet to be named by the organisers.

Lucrative prize

Guest winners, handicap 10 P. Kinuthia and handicap 18 F.Mwaura amassed a total of 41 points to receive a cash prize of Sh100,000 each alongside professional players Ajay Shah and D.Indiza whose combination realised 44 points.

The final Teflon Greensome Challenge marked the end of multiple tournaments held countrywide throughout the year. A total of 16 clubs were represented with 96 players as finalists.

The event attracted golfers from clubs all over the country who had qualified during preliminary stages. The award ceremony was presided over by Deputy Governor of Kiambu Gerald G.Githinji.

Meanwhile, handicap nine Martin Makundi was the overall winner of the Vice Chairman’s Putter contest sponsored by Amos Ntimama, which was played at the Vet Lab Sports Club in Nairobi.

Makundi posted 22 points in the first nine and 16 in the second to win the contest with a total of 38 stableford points, but had to rely on the countback to claim the win.

The men’s winner was handicap two Moi Lemoshira, who had 15 points in the first nine and 21 in the second to also finish with 38 stableford points.             —[email protected]