Karanga breaks the course record to maintain victory in KAGC series

Kaimbu’s Michael Karanga sends a shot to the second greens during the final day of the 2023 Coast Open Golf Championship at the Mombasa Golf Club course in Mombasa County.[Maarufu Mohamed.Standard].

Kiambu’s Michael Karanga celebrated the weekend in style after breaking a course record at the Sea-Link par 71 Mombasa golf Club course, Mombasa County.

This was during the  third final  day  in the 2023 Coast Open Championship where Karanga  carded a seven under par 64 gross  to break the  Club’s course record  lastly set by Garry Cullen in 1986  in the  same event  and  Ben  Okello’s in 1991 during  a mug event.

Karanga emerged the overall winner in the three days 54 holes event on a total of 206 gross to be crowned the overall Champion.

He  came from behind  in the first  day  with a  3 over par 74 gross on Friday, played a  3  under 68 gross in the second day  on Sunday  before  finalizing the last day  on a  7 under par 64  gross  to win the  overall title  and  a prize money of ksh.92,500.

The Golfer who registers his sixth title in the series is currently the top leader in the ongoing Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) events being played around the Country.

“Iam extremely honored to have broken the course record in the Coast open 2023. I started off  slowly  before my game picked off in the second and third  rounds  putting out  my best  in this beautiful course.  I hope to defend the title next year,” said Karanga.

Uganda’s Godfrey Nsubuga from Mehta Club , Josphat Rono of Golf park and  Kenya Railway’s John Lejirma  all tied for the second slot after each completed  with 220 gross.

Vet Lab’s Brian Edgar and Golf Park’s Sammy Mulama each returned the same score of 224 gross to claim the third slot.

The top Lady golfer was Kiambu’s Joyce Wanjiru who carded a total score of 230 gross and claimed a slot among the top 30 leaders.

Unfortunately ,all the 75 Amateurs  who registered  to play  in the event  missed  the brand  new Toyota  Camry  worth Ksh.2 million prize  that was offered by Kushi Motors  after  all  failed  to sink  a “hole  in  one” in the three days.

This event organized by the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) and marks the 103rd Barry Cup, was being played for the first time as a 54-hole event to enable the elite amateur an opportunity to earn World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.

Kiambu’s Michael Karanga receives the Mombasa  Golf Club’s course record flag from  among others the Club’s Captain James Gitonga Club’s  in presence of the Club’s Chairman Paul Munyao, , the Club’s  former Chairman Eric Nyongesa,KGU  Tournament referee  Collins  Ojiambo (right) and Mombasa County  Executive in charge of Sports Ken Ambani. [Maarufu Mohamed,Standard]

Club Chairman Paul Munyao and his Captain James Gitonga thanked all the Golfers ,KGU officials and the sponsors for making the tournament successful.

They said the Barry cup continues its strong run as the premier sporting event for amateurs in the region where it draws massive support from the growing golf fraternity.

“Apart from the finesse exhibited in the field by the select elite amateurs during the championship, it has also emerged as a gem of socialization and the festive camaraderie that pervades the ocean facing the club is usually the premium outing for the regional and upcountry tourists, “said Munyao and Gitonga.

The event’s entry was limited to 78 players with 16.4 handicap index and below and was jointly sponsored by NCBA, Kalmar, Britam, Majani Insurance Brokers and Kushi Motors.

Club records indicate that the Barry Cup is the oldest Golf trophy competed for in the Kenyan Coast having first been donated to the Mombasa golf Club in 1913  by Percy Barry  who was not only a founder member of the Club but was also the first Honorary Treasurer and Captain for a whopping four times.

The Championship since its inception in 1913 is the most premier golfing event in the country held under the auspices of the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) in a series of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC).

The Championship has since then, been played at the club house except from 1940-45 during the Second World War;

TOP TEN LEADERS AND TIES-COAST 2023 OPEN (BARRY CUP);

Michael Karanga-206gross,Godfrey Nsubuga-220gross,Josphat Rono-220gross,John Lejirma-220gross,Edgar Brian-224gross,Sammy Mulama-224gross,Ebill Omollo-225gross,John Koina-226gross,Gurbux Singh-229gross,Henry Kamau-229gross,Joyce Wanjiru-230gross,Steve Kairo-230gross.