Kariuki wins 2019 Railways Ladies Open

Rachael Ndei in the Kenya Railways Golf Club Ladies Open in Nairobi, on Saturday. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Nancy Kariuki of Machakos Sports Clubs is the 2019 Ladies Open champion.

Kariuki, playing off handicap 13, was in her element, shooting 87 gross, to close her round with 74 nett and claim victory over a field of 120 golfers, 80 of whom were ladies.

The long-hitting Kariuki spiced up her round with a solid short-game on the tough playing course at the par 72 Kenya Railway Golf Club over the weekend.

The event was hosted by the clubs’ Lady captain, Jane Allice Mutuota and was presented by AA (Automobile Association) of Kenya.

On the outward nine, Kariuki had a false start with a double-bogey on the par-5 first, she, however, found her groove on the second from where she sank six back-to-back bogeys on the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh holes.

Kariuki leaked on the par-3 eighth after she over-shot the green into the out-of-bounds trench, setting off the deck with a three that landed on the fringe before two-putting for a second and final double-bogey for the day.

Kariuki quickly made amends on the par-5 ninth with a deserved birdie to close the first nine with 45 gross.

After the halfway mark, a rejuvenated Kariuki carded her maiden par on the par-5 10th but dropped shots on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th holes with bogeys.

She then bounced back with a par on the courses’ signature hole, a par-3 15th hole “Kerio Valley”, dropping another shot on the par-5 for a bogey.

She, however, found the green off the deck on the 17th hole and two-putted for par.

Her tee-shot was caught in the woods to the left next to the 180-yard marker from where she was well-out onto the fairway.

She then found the green on the fifth shot, a foot off the pin, from where she tapped it in for bogey, closing her inward nine with bogey for a back nine total of 47 gross.

“It was one of those days that lots of practice pays back. I have been working on my short-game, which has been giving me nightmares,” said Kariuki.

“I am happy it paid off on such a good day.”

Handicap 9, Mwikali Nzioka, from Limuru Golf & Country Club was second with 76 nett edging out handicap 3, Sarah Kanyereri of Golf Park, on countback with a similar score of 76 nett.