Coast rookie Sang wins maiden title at Sea-Link Mombasa Course

Overall winner at Mombasa Course Willy Sang sending his drive shot to the second greens during the KPA Corporate Golf tourney. [Maarufu Mohamed,Standard].

Coast rookie Willy Sang was over the moon after registering his maiden victory against rch rivals at the par 71 Seas Link Mombasa Golf Course in Mombasa County on Saturday.

Playing off handicap 21 Sang overcame all odds including unpredictable weather and parts of wet course by bringing an excellent 44 Stable ford points to emerge the overall winner in the third circuit of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Corporate Golf Tournament.

His victory of the day over the 120 golfers came after a playing 21 and 23 points in both the front and back nines that took him to the podium for the first time since joining the golfing world one year ago.

"I woke up in the morning with a promise that there will be no rain and my prayers were heard, though some parts of the course were wet following the ongoing rains. But the day was good with my four ball team who made me the reason to be at the podium this evening. I extend my gratitude to the Club for shaping me as new Golfer and following this victory, I can only tell my fellow Golfers that please watch this space, "said Sang.

Sang was only a single point ahead of handicap 16 Edwin Kipto who was declared the Men winner while 15 Justine Ongere was placed the runners up on a count back score 41 points after tying on the same score with third placed handicap 16 Mburu Mwangi.

Mary Kandu playing off handicap 8 returned 38 points to claim the lady's title and handicap 18 Caroline Mokaya was the runners up on a score of 34 points.

Managing Director of James Finlay Wesley Bosuben playing off handicap managed 38 points from a double 18 points in both nines to win the Guest prize beating Dr.Kikwai Kibet to the runners up slot by a five point difference.

School boy handicap 20 Ethan Kinuthia returned 16 and 21 points in both nines for a total of 37 points to emerge the best junior of the day and handicap 3 Maj.Gen.Charles Rob was the senior winner with a good score of 40 points.

There was a stiff contest between the Staffs but handicap 16 Japheth Obonyo managed to beat them on 37 points , just a single point difference against rival handicap 17 Charles Odoo who was the runners up while handicap 29 Arberrnus Kimenye with 36 points claimed the high handicappers prize.

Captain James Gitonga flanked by his Chairman Paul Munyao thanked KPA for bringing their Corporate Golf event to the Sea-Link Course.

"Our relationship with KPA runs deep with several of our Members being employees of KPA and we humbly request you to bring back the tourney next year," said Gitonga and Munyao.

The Club officials noted the day was most successful marked by high spirit from the golfers who defied the unpredictable weather to attend in large numbers noting the event was the biggest ever held at the Club this year.

"We congratulate all the winners of the day, continue shining and to the losers, there are still more chances, never lose hope," they said.

The tourney was also graced by KPA's Chairman Benjamin Tayari, Manager Corporate Communication Bernard Osero, General Manager Corporate Services Edward Kamau and several Directors.

On behalf of the KPA's Managing Director William Ruto, Tayari said the main purpose of the tournament is to appreciate their Customers and stakeholders and also get feedback on Corporates service delivery levels.

Tayari informed stakeholders on the ongoing Port projects in Mombasa, Lamu, Shimoni, Kisumu, the Inland Container depots in Nairobi and Naivasha.

The Mombasa Golf Club event is the third circuit out of four this year with others being the Central/North Rift ,Nairobi Circuit and the Nyanza/Western while the final fourth circuit will be held on December,9th at Kakamega Sports Club.

Elsewhere at Nyali Golf and Country Club on the same day, handicap 26 Karan Khagram returned 41 points to emerge the overall winner of Diwali Golf tournament with handicap -1 William Kaguta carding a six over par 77 gross to emerge claim the Best Gross prize.

George Mokua playing off handicap 14 was the Men winner on 39 points and handicap 14 Lumatete Muchai brought a count back score of 38 points to claim the runners up slot.

The lady winner on 36 points was handicap 11 Christine Ockotch on 36 points while handicap 14 Truphena Oyaro settled for the runners up having brought 32 points.

Handicap 28 Nitin Pandya on 32 points and handicap 17 with 30 points were the senior and junior winners respectively.

KPA CORPORATE GOLF DAY FULL RESULTS-MOMBASA GOLF CLUB

Overall wnner-Willy Sang (21)-21-23-44points,Men winner-Edwin Kiptoo (16)-22-21-43points,Runners up-Justine Ongere (15)-21-20-41c/b points,Third-Mburu Mwangi (16)-22-19-41points,Lady winner-Mary Kandu (8)-17-21 38Points,Runners up-Caroline Mokaya (18)-16-18-34points,Guest winner-Wesley Bosuben (27)-19-19-38points,Runners up-Dr. Kikwai Kibet (23)-15-18-33points,Third-Samson Ngeno (27)-26 c/b points,Best Junior-Ethan Kinuthia (20)-16-21-37points,Best Senior-Maj.Gen.Rob (23)-20-20-40points,Longest drive men winner-Henry Akello,Longest drive lady winner-Gladys Mueni,Nearest to the Pin-Randy Cheruiyot (Jnr) 3 ft,Staff winner-Japheth Obonyo (16)-16-21-37points,Runner's up-Charles Odoo (17)-18-18-36points,Third-Dr. Stanley Samoei (22)-12-21-33points,Fourth-Paul Koech (18)-14-17-31points,Best high handicapper-Arbernus Kimenye (29)-16-20-36points.