Stefan stands tall

By Maarufu Mohamed

Twenty-year-old Stefan Anderson came from behind to lift the 2010 Diani Beach Masters trophy after posting a total of 144 gross to emerge the overall gross winner of the two-day event at Leisure Lodge Resort Golf Club in South Coast of Mombasa.

Muthaiga Club’s Anderson, who is being sponsored by Puma, had shot a two over par 73 gross for third place on Saturday, but came out fighting in the final round on Sunday with a one under par 71 gross to claim the Tausi Title.

Playing off handicap plus 3, Anderson started the first nine, posting a birdie and eight pars for a one under 35 gross, and returned to complete the second nines with two birdies, five pars and two bogeys for one over par 36 gross.

Francis Kimani (right) helps Diani Masters winner Stefan Anderson to wear the Green Jacket. [PHOTOS: MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD]

"I have never won a tournament at the Coast since I was 12. This victory is great for me," said Anderson.

Anderson, who is based at a golf academy in South Africa, is expected to undergo qualification rounds for golf professionals next month in South Africa.

Top Golfer

The golfer, who won the Sigona Bowl early this year and lost narrowly in the 2010 Coast open Championship to Sullivan Muthugia in a play-off match, is among the top 20 golfers of this year’s prestigious Mpumalanga Open and Limpopo Open, both to be held in South Africa.

Boniface Simwa of Vet Lab Club, who was the overnight leader with an excellent four under par 68 gross, emerged second after posting a total of 145 gross.

Playing off plus two handicap, Simwa had played first, posting seven pars, with a birdie on the second hole and a bogey to settle for a level par 36 gross.

He blundered in the second nines, starting with a scratch on par-four hole 10, with three bogeys and three pars but recovered with birdies on par-five hole 13 and par-four hole 17 to close with a seven over par 41 gross.

Omondi third

Collins Omondi of Muthaiga, playing off plus 3 handicap, settled for third with two points less, while Amos Kamau of leisure Lodge was fourth on a total score of 149 gross.

The two-day 36-hole tournament, which attracted 120 top amateurs from Kenya and Tanzania, was sponsored by Tausi Assurance Company and organised by the Leisure Beach Resort and Golf Club.

Defending champion and Kenya national golf captain, Francis Kimani of Limuru, who won the tournament in 2007 and 2009, found the going tough and settled for sixth on a total gross score of 150, behind Nelson Mudanyi of Muthaiga.

Adam Mwanyenza, Frank Roman, and Idd Muzaki from Tanzania were among the leading top 25 golfers.

Tanzania sent a strong team of 22 players with 14 golfers playing off single handicaps.

The event started in 1998 as a championship event and is a one of the major events in the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Calendar of events.

It counts towards the Golfer of Year Awards and became a KGU event from 2003.