Clash of the Mountain heads to Thika Greens

Metumi's Anthony Irungu in action during the first edition of Inter-County Golf Challenge played at Thika Greens Golf Resort in Kiambu County, March 2, 2019. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

A large field of 230 golfers has been drawn up for the Inter-County golf challenge dubbed “Clash of the Mountain” to be played at Thika Greens Golf Resort set to be one of the biggest golfing events at the par 72 course which tilts 6, 990 yards in the recent past on Saturday.

“Clash of the Mountain” is presented by Kamp Insurance Agency Limited, Charlestone, Isuzu, Thika Greens Golf Resort and East African Breweries Limited (EABL) among others.

Inter-County Golf Challenge seeks to promote national cohesion, will see golfers from various counties battle in knock-out rounds to be played across the country before the grand finale at Thika Greens Golf Resort at the end of the year.

The event will see teams made-up of golfers drawn up from different counties compete against each other under match-play format, hole by hole with players being given 90 per cent in the team category while in the individual category will be played under the stableford format off full handicap.

In the first edition, Murang’a (Metumi) had the better of Kirinyaga’s (Abai) 16-10 during the tournament played under the match-play format.

The event will see golfers will see four teams comprised of golfers from Meru christened (Amerucans), Kirinyaga (Abai, Nyeri (Rware) and Murang’a (Metumi) battle it out for the top honours.

The first flight will be off the deck at exactly 8:00 am in a continues draw to ensure all those drawn up for the day play and finish their rounds on time.

Notable players to watch out for are; Wanjohi Kangangi playing off handicap 5 and Ndiga Githae playing off 13, playing for Kirinyaga’s (Abai), Mutahi Karanja playing off handicap 9.

Amerucan which is comprised of Meru and Tharaka Nithi golfers’ trophy chest raid will be led by Jediel Muriungi playing off handicap 6, Gabriel Miungi playing off handicap 10 both from Nanyuki Sports Club and James Kamenchu playing off handicap 4 of Kenya Railway Golf Club, Muthaiga’s David Mwindi playing off handicap 8 and Julius Muteithia playing off handicap 9.

With Amerucans' convener Ronald Meru, exuding confidence that his team will shine at the meet saying, “We are the most experienced as well as the best-prepared team so far for the clash. We’ve been practising together as the Amerucan Golf Team. Let the final results speak for itself.”

Nyeri County will be represented by Muthaiga's golfing brothers Mutahi Kibugu playing off scratch and Njoroge Kibugu playing off handicap 5 as well among others.

Meanwhile, Kenya Railways Golf Club will host outgoing Chairman (Laban Gathungu) prize at the challenging par 72 course.

The two-day event which starts today and ends tomorrow is presented by Kenya Railways, Heineken, Isuzu East Africa and NIC Bank highlight a hole-in-one prize a sh6.4million brand new Isuzu Max SUV sponsored by Isuzu East Africa.

Under Gathungu’s stint at the helm, Kenya Railways Golf Club won the Nairobi District Golf League title, three years in a row 2016-2018 to permanently retain the NDGL shield.

While Machakos Sports Club will host the Akitondo Golf Day presented by the club’s membership drawn from the Akitondo clan of the Akamba community and Simba Corporation’s Xylon Motors who will sponsor the hole-in-one prize with a Sh4.3million Mahindra SUV with a field of 120 golfers drawn up for the tournament.