Calm Nyali pro Ngugi rules at home course

Mombasa County Governor hassan Joho (right) presents the winning (Amateur) Trophy to Aamin Dhanji (left) in Mombasa County on Saturday,03rd November,2018 night.Dhanji was the Amateur winner in the Inaugural Mombasa County Governor's ( Hassan Joho) golf tournament played at Nyali Course. [Maarufu Mohamed,Standard]

Nyali Golf and Country Club's professional Njuguna Ngugi utilised his skills to emerge victorious during the inaugural Mombasa County Governor’s 2018 golf tournament at the weekend.

Aamin Dhanji, also from Nyali Club, survived a countback to lead the amateurs.

The two-day tournament, which was sponsored by Mombasa County Government, attracted 16 professionals and 200 amateurs.

Ngugi started on a high note as he led on Friday with an excellent score of three under par for a 68 gross.

He just needed a one over par 72 gross on Saturday for a total of 140 gross to emerge the winner in the professionals category. He also claimed Sh110,000 from the Sh1 million prize kitty.

Thika’s Simon Ngige was the runner-up on 142 gross (70-72) and pocketed Sh90,000 while Golf Park's David Wakhu and Muthaiga’s Kopan Timbe tied third on 143 gross and received Sh75,000 each.

Professional Golf of Kenya (PGK) Chairman Charan Thethy thanked the sponsor for paying the Sh15,000 appearance fee for each professional who took part in the tournament.

He also called for the upgrading of the tournament to a Tour level.

“Nyali is such a wonderful course and it's through such tournaments that our professionals prepare especially for the forthcoming Kenya Open which is now a European Tour event. I hope one day it's played here in Mombasa,” said Thethy.

In the amateur category, home club’s handicap 14 Aamin Dhanji survived a countback score of 38 points to claim the Governor’s trophy after tying on the same score with club mate handicap 19 IJaz Sheikh, who was the Men winner.

Handicap 11 Dinesh Sasan was Men runner-up on a countback score of 37 points, tying with handicap 26 Daniel Ondeng’a.

Joyce Masai, playing off handicap 12, claimed the Ladies prize on 38 points while handicap 7 Taufiq Balala, from the Local County Government, was the staff winner on 33 points.

Handicap 19 Allysia Jamal, who had the best day’s score of 41 points, was declared the best Junior. Handicap 22 J.C. Patel, on 34 points,  was the best senior.

The Sponsor, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho from Vipingo Ridge Club and playing off handicap 26, managed 29 points having played 11 and 18 in both nines.