Golf: Trio ties after round one 2018 Nyali captain’s accolade

Rapthe De Silva makes a swing.[Maarufu Mohamed,Standard]

Home club’s trio of Miqdad Walji, Lawrance Odhiambo and Joseph Waigwa tied in the first round of the Qatar Airways Nyali Captain’s (Taib Bajaber) 2018 Prize golf tournament on Saturday.

The handicap 10 Walji, handicap 24 Odhiambo and Waigwa, playing off handicap 12, each brought 68 nett to take a first round lead at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club course, in Mombasa.

The tournament is being played in a medal and stableford formats for men and Ladies respectively and has attracted several visiting captains and Lady captains from various clubs across the country as well as guests with valid handicaps.

Some of the favourites for top honours include handicap 16 Peter Maina, who had 70 nett in round one. Golfers also have a chance of driving off with a brand new Mitsubishi ASX from Simba Colt Motors for sinking a hole-in-one at the 18th hole.

Maina is tied on the same score with handicap 17 Zaffar Imtiaz, handicap 04 William Kaguta and handicap 23 Abass Sheikh.

In the Ladies’ section, the round one winner was home club’s  Rapthe De Silva, on 31 points (11-20), while club mate’s Mary Kandu, on 26 points (14-12), was the runner-up, while Mombasa Club’s lady captain Mary Mariga, on 25 points (13-12), was third placed.

Qatar Airways are the tournament’s title sponsors. The event will pave way for the incoming club captain Willie Mbote, who will be ushered in office after the club’s annual general meeting.

Outgoing Nyali Golf Club Captain Taib Bajaber makes a swing.[Maarufu Mohamed,Standard]

The airways’ Commercial Manager Kenya Sherif Kamel said their management was thrilled to be the title sponsors of the tournament and are proud to be associated with the club.

“This is a key event and our sponsorship demonstrates our commitment to sporting events in the country as a means of bringing people together, a motto that we as an airline abide to,” said Kamel.

She said the award-winning airline was delighted to have already started integrating with the local market.

Nyali Club manager Eunice Masila described Bajaber as a team player, focused and a keen captain who has brought immense discipline in the club.

The two-day tournament entered its second and final round yesterday and it’s hosted by the club to bid farewell to the outgoing captain, Taib Bajaber.

It attracted 250 golfers, all fighting for the coveted title.

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