Golf Gala tees off in Kiambu County

By James Waindi

The second edition of the Dasani Golf Gala teed off with a thriller at the nine-hole Kiambu Golf Club at the weekend, when the winners had to be decided on a count back after a tie.

The top two teams of Chris Kieu, Club Vice-Chairman, Patrick Wanjohi, Club Captain Stephen Karanja and Don Mwaura and the team of Stephen Mburu, John Gachuchu, Wamburu Njoroge and Club Chairman James Ngalawa posted similar team scores of 106 to tie at the top of the daylong competition that brought together a total of 135 golfers.

Kiambu Captain Patrick Wanjohi during Dasani Golf Gala at the weekend . [PHOTO:COURTESY]

The tie had to be decided by the scores of the fourth players in each team; Don Mwaura was the weakest link in the winning team with a fair score of 31, earning his group victory on count-back since Ngalawa was the weakest link in the other team with a score of 30.

Winning team

Speaking at the prize giving ceremony, Kieu, who anchored his team to victory, thanked Dasani for choosing Kiambu. "The Kiambu Club is honoured to host the first edition of the 2011 Dasani Golf Gala," Kieu said. "As a bonus, my team has qualified and I trust we will be the winning team at the Grand Finale. We look forward to travelling to USA."

Martin Nyaga scored 39 points, beating Samuel Wambu on count back to become the top individual not in a winning team. The guest winner was Nathan Brown on 38 points.

The Gala is expected to take a two-week break to pave way for the Kenya Open Golf Championship at Muthaiga and the Africa Zone VI Golf Championship at the Nyali Golf and Country Club. It will resume at the Limuru Country Club on the April 16 and then move to the Vet Lab Sports Club on April 30.

Qualification rounds

The 2011 Dasani Golf Gala will include 18 events and host participants from 38 golf clubs across the country and under the various bottler territories. Nairobi Bottlers will host events at 14 different venues, while Rift Valley Bottlers, Kisii Bottlers, Equator Bottlers and Mt. Kenya Bottlers will host one event each. Over 10,000 club members will experience the 2011 Dasani Golf Gala.

The Kiambu event was the first of 18 qualification rounds that will see the ultimate winning team win an all expenses paid VIP golf trip to the Tour Championship, presented by Coca-Cola, at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta is the home of the world’s most popular brand, Coca-Cola.

Limuru: Warriors Golf Day, men winner- John Gathu 44pts (21,23), Men R/Up-David Nyakango 43pts (24,19), Lady winner- Jeniffer Murigu 44pts (25,19), Guest winner- Z. Shokat 38pts (18,20), Warrior winner- M. Sumar 40 pts (20,20), Gross winner- James Karanja 70 gross, 1st Nine- Eliud Gathu 22pts, 2nd Nine- Rose Mambo 21pts, Longest drive men- James Kimani, Longest drive lady- Martha Vincent, Nearest to Pin men- W. Mwangi, Nearest to Pin lady- Rose Mambo, Best effort warrior- David Mambo 22pts (10,12), Best effort- Marha Vincent 17pts (6,11).