Varsity student Karan triumphs at Vet Lab Club

Sophomore Karan Raikundalia [Courtesy]

Sophomore Karan Raikundalia won the fifth leg of the Crown Silicon stableford challenge overall title at the par 72 Vet Lab Golf Club, in Nairobi, over the weekend.

Karan, a second-year Mechanical Engineering student at University of Toronto, in Canada, returned a score of 38 stableford points to prevail over a field of 204 golfers, who participated in the day-long tournament presented by paint maker Crown Paints Limited.

Playing off handicap 13, Karan, who is on vacation, played a calculated game as he beat eventual Men winner Solomon Atsiaya, who posted a similar score of 38 stableford points on countback.

Karan had his share of trouble on the course, which was compounded by the tough rough, but still managed a few good shots that contributed to his great showing.

“I made a couple of necessary shots, which were on target,” said Karan. “What worked for me most was staying clear of the torturous rough that was very unforgiving. The safest way to do that was to play safe by being precise with my strikes.”

“I was able to analyse my game after a few holes and made vital decisions as well as executed great shots in the process,” added Karan.

He rolled in eight pars on the, second, fourth, fifth, seventh, 11th, 13th, and 15th holes. He then birdied the 12th, bogeyed the first, sixth, eighth, 14th, 16th and 18th holes.

On the outward nine, Karan only picked a double-bogey on the par-4 third, 10th and 17th holes.

Gregory Mwenda, playing off handicap 17, claimed Men winner prize on a score of 36 stableford points.

Handicap 21 Kris Bieju Shah settled for Men winner third prize, on a score of 35 stableford points as Rahul Mehul Shah, playing off handicap 24, was fourth with 35 stableford points.

Handicap 20 Rosemary Olonde, with 33 stableford points, took the Ladies title.

Rachael Kimani on 32 was the Lady winner second, while handicap 35, Veronica Muthiani, on 30 stableford points, was third.

In the Guest category, Paul Ngugi of Kenya Railways Golf Club and playing off handicap 7, had the better of Sir Joe Wainaina of Limuru Golf & Country Club, also playing off handicap 7, by claiming the Guest winner prize on countback on similar score of 35 stableford points.

Wainaina was Guest winner second.

Sean Nganga, playing off handicap 5, emerged the top junior golfer on a score of 32 stableford points, while Anil Unia, playing off handicap 24, was the Senior winner on a score of 32 stableford points.

In the commercials, David Kihara won the Longest Drive Men prize as Eunice Waiyaki won in the Ladies’ category. Onesmus Kibuna took the Nearest to Pin prize.

12 twos were registered during the tournament by Tom Chirchir (6), Mark Karobia (6), Luke Kiambi (8), Birju Shah (8), David Situma (8) and Onesmus Kibuna (16).

Others were Ian Gakoi (16), James Nderitu (16), Adam Nyaga (16), Rosemary Olonde (16), Krish Shah (16) and Arjan Shankla (16).