Abubakar overcomes all odds to celebrate double victory at Nyali

Overall winner Mohdhar Abubakar follows his swing drive to the second greens during the KAWT golf tournament at Nyali Golf and Country Club in Mombasa County on Saturday.[Maarufu Mohamed, Standard].

Mohdhar Abubakar overcame all odds to celebrate a double victory beating a team of 151 golfers in a golf tournament played at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club Course in Mombasa County on Saturday.

Playing off handicap 6 Abubakar carded a one over par 72 gross and an excellent 41 stable ford points to emerge the best and overall winner respectively in the 2023 Kenya Association of Women in Tourism (KAWT) golf tournament.

Despite the ongoing harsh sunny coastal condition and tricky pin course positions, Abubakar’s endured all the odds for a victory that came after playing a 21 and 20 points in both nines and securing the lead gross to be declared the day’s leader.

“Today has been one of my luckiest day, just to be lucky to win and I could not even imagine it’s me standing here at the winner’s podium this evening. But this was all possible because I had wonderful playing team partners of Taib Bajaber, Justin Kaburu, and Fahmy Bajaber who kept my morale high despite the harsh sunny weather. I would also like to thank this event Organizers, Sponsors and the Club for this successful day and hope to retain the title next year, “said Abubakar who also registered his maiden win after many months.

Coast Lawyer Lumatete Muchai playing off handicap 14 survived on account back of 40 points to claim the Men prize after tying on the same  score with second laced handicap 13 Mburu Kariuku while handicap 11 John Orioro returned a count back score of 39 points to win the third slot.

Veteran Lady Golfer Christine Ockotch playing off handicap 11 was the Lady winner with 39 points beating handicap 26 Hellen Wanjiru to the runners up slot by a two point’s difference.

Rashid Sheikh playing off handicap 33 was the Best Senior while handicap 6 Kelly Rob on 32 points and handicap 14 Samuel Gathere with 33 points were  the best junior and guest winners respectively.

The winner’s prize for the Coast invited Clubs was won by Diamond Leisure Golf Club’s handicap 37 Pauline Nduva who had 41 points.

The Club Manager Eunice Masila who blessed the course by being the first to tee off alongside Truphena Oyaro and Hellen Wanjiru at 7.00am, however had a bad day after returning a disastrous score of 22 points from 12 and 10 points in both nines.

Kenya Association of Women in Tourism (KAWT) organized the one day 18 holes stable ford tournament supported by Tourism Fund, Kericho Gold, Diani Sea Resort, Leopard Beach Resort and Spa, Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa and Villa Becky Diani.

Others were Severin Sea Lodge, Coca-Cola Coast Bottlers Mombasa, BF-Suma Supplements and the Wine Box.

KAWT National President  Jane Adam, flanked by her Vice Maureen Awuor, Founder Member Faith Wathome and  their host the Mombasa County Chapter Chairperson Janet Chamia thanked the Club, Sponsors and golfers for  the successful event and assured to come back next year.

They said that the KAWT is a professional body and non-profit association, whose primary mandate is to provide a platform for women's empowerment through engagement, employment and participation in the tourism industry.

The Officials who donated some indigenous trees to be planted around the Club course pointed out that the event is aimed at creating Green awareness and raise funds for their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in buying sanitary pads and paying schools fees for the less privileged members in the society.

“KAWT also aims to unite and mobilize women in the tourism and hospitality sector to take an active role in the promotion of tourism in Kenya and come up with programs that promote and enhance social harmony, “said the Officials.

Club Chairman Kamami Njoroge and Captain Dinesh Sasan said the club was privileged to host the event and looking forward to holding an even larger and more successful one next year God willing.

Elsewhere at Ruiru Sports Club in the same day, it was handicap 23 Emmanuel Kabaki ruling the course after carding an excellent 41 points to emerge the Overall winner in the 2023 Rware Golf Tournament.

The Men winner was handicap 21 John Gitau with a score of 40 points and handicap 17 David Kibui settled for the runner’s u slot on a score of 40 points.

Pauline Mungai playing off handicap 18 was the Lady winner on 37 points and handicap 16 Mary Muthoni brought 36 points to settle for the runners up slot.

Category two winner on 42 points was handicap 3 John Chege  while handicap 29 Grace Wanjiku on 39 points and handicap 19 Benjamin Muchungi with 40 points were  the  Guest  and Sponsor winners respectively.

And at Thika Golf Club ,Carol Muigai Njeri, playing off handicap of 19, emerged victorious in the fifth leg of the ‘DTB Bank With Us’ Golf Tournament.

MOMBASA GOLF CLUB;

September 2023 Mug and Medal by NCBA;

Division A winner-George Githinji (8)-68nett,Runners up-Lawrence Odhiambo (12)-71nett,Third-Henry Kamau (0)-73nett,Division B winner-Peter Kimanga (13)-67nett,Runners up-Anthony Kariuki (17)-73nett,Third-Justine Ongere (16)-76nett,Division C winner-Ken Kimundi (23)-68nett,Runners up-Elvis Nduati (20)-69nett C/B,Third-Dilip Shah (25)-69nett,Division D winner-Salim Taib (30)-70nett,Best Gross winner-Henry Kamau-73gross,Best Guest winner-Martin Ombura-76nett.

November 2023 Ladies medal;

Division A winner-Gladys Kasi (19)-73nett,Runners up-Grace Kwamboka (19)-78nett C/B,Division B winner-Faith Muteti (27)-71nett,Runners up-Winfred Ndunge (33)-73nett,Division C winner-Fiona Mbandi (37)-71nett.