Kenyans ladies take control at Coast Open

Vet Lab's Lady golfer Mercy Nyanchama at Nyali Golf and Country Club yesterday. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Kenyan lady golfer Mercy Nyanchama saved her colleagues by taking control of the course route to the emerging Silver winner of the Ladies Coast 2019 Open championships at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club yesterday.

The Vet Lab golfer, who is also the recent Kiambu ladies winner, carded a round total of 146 gross in the 36 holes tourney to clinch the 201 Nyali Bowl trophy.

“I have been yearning to win this trophy after playing many times and eventually this time was a success,” said Nyanchama.

The event’s three-time winner (2011, 2012, 2017) Tanzania’s Angel Eaton from Dar es salaam Golf Club was the gross runner-up on a round total of 148 gross.

Her compatriot Neema Olomi from  Arusha Golf Club was the third gross winner on 153 gross. Kenya’s Serah Kanyereri from Royal Nairobi scored 155 gross for fourth place.

The Bronze medal was won by Thika’s Anastasia Karimi on a  countback round total score of 186  gross after tying with compatriot Grace  Karanja, who settled for gross runners Nyambura Muigai was third.

The Nyali round is the second of four spread across the four Coast golf clubs.

Nyali Golf and Country Club Lady Captain Suzan Stokes thanked the sponsors and the lady golfers from the East African for making the event successful.

The weeklong championship is in its 71st edition and is organised by the Kenya Ladies Golf Union. The tournament kicked off on Tuesday at the Diani’s par 72 Leisure Resort in Kwale where Tanzanians Hawa Wanyeche from Lugalo Club on 77 gross and Neema Olomi with 80 gross were the overall and silver gross winners.

Kenyans swept the bronze medal after home Club’s Sabine Funk carded 94 gross for the winner’s title and Suzan Mwangi from Mombasa Golf Club produced 99 gross to claim the bronze runners up slot.

The action moved to the Sea-link Mombasa Golf Course yesterday where the ladies played an 18-hole and today they will be at the Vipingo Ridge Course for another 18-hole GOTY before finishing at the same venue tomorrow.