Omondi tops golfing event

By James Waindi

Playing off handicap two but now chopped to one, international Collins Omondi sunk an eagle on par five hole four to steer him to the KCB Advantage Banking Challenge title on four under par 67 at the par-71 Muthaiga Golf Club at the weekend.

Omondi, regarded as one of the best amateurs in the country, started the front nine on a high, collecting several pars before picking an eagle on the fourth hole, He later sunk two birdies, before dropping a shot on the long stroke index one- hole eight to post two under par 33.

In the back nine, he managed a birdie but dropped a shot on the eleventh, only to recover with a birdie on hole 17 and pars on the rest of the holes for two under par 34 to post 39 stableford points ahead of more than 150 players.

Collins Omondi celebrates a point at Muthaiga Golf Club, at the weekend. [PHOTO: COURTESY].

Elijah Adul combined 20 and 18 for a score of 38 points to settle for the runners-up position, relegating Jaman Patel to third with 37 points on count back. Handicap 9, Jonathan Ciano, carded 16 and 21 for 37 points to take the fourth position, beating Engineer Mwirichia, also on count back, to fifth.

Guest Prize

Guest prize went to D Ngumi on 39 points, while D Mambo took the guest runners-up prize on 37 points. Ken Wamae was the staff winner on 36 points, followed by Rebecca Likami on 35. The junior prize went to David Geita, who mustered 31 points.

At the Nakuru Golf Club, two Nandi Bears teams were the first to qualify for the Tusker Malt Golf Carnival Grand Finale. The team of W Biwott, D Sambai, John Agui and Irene Brooker qualified for the finale after posting 111 points to win the Rift Valley Regional Finale at the Nakuru Golf Club.

Biwott, a 12-handicap golfer, anchored his team with 37 stableford points, while Brooker, playing off handicap 22, returned 35 points. Handicap 18 golfer Sambai added to the team’s total with 33 points. Agui, playing off the best handicap in the tam (11), was the weakest link on 29 points.

Qualification slot

The single handicap team of Kasi Roberts, handicap two John Anyonyi, handicap four James Siayi, and Abraham Maichi (handicap nine), finished second to book the second qualification slot. Maichi and Anyonyi posted level par scores of 36 points, while Roberts added 32 points to the team total of 104. Siayi was the weakest link with 29-points. Anyonyi said his team hopes to win the golf trip to South Africa.

"We were first in Eldoret and we played well in Nakuru to qualify for the Grand Finale at Muthaiga. Our plan is to practice hard for the Grand Finale and win the golf trip to South Africa," Anyonyi said.

Third-placed at Nakuru was another Nandi Bears team of S Maiyo, John Tarus, Ezekiel Sang and D Muge with 103 points. The fourth position went to the team of Dominic Waroga, J Gichinga, M Gichinga and Mike Mugo from Naivasha golf club on 96 points.

The team of DG Okello, J Manyara, Maina Kariuki and SN Wachira from Njoro was fifth on 91. The best individual golfer was Dennis Kimambo (37 points), beating Dickson Muli on count-back. Samuel Wachira (35 points) was third.