Machakos hosts ICEA golf tournament as Saikwa wins Nyanza Open

By PHILLIP ORWA and DANIEL NZIA

Richard Karano emerged the winner of the ICEA Lion Group sponsored golf tournament at the Machakos Golf Club on Sunday.

The handicap 22 golfer garnered 41 points to lead a pack of 85 players. He was followed closely by Jackson Ndunda, playing on handicap 14, with 39 points. Handicap 21 Ben Nyamongo was third with 39 points, losing to Ndunda on countback.

Guest winners were M. Njogu and M. Kinuthia in the men’s category with 36 and 33 points while Jane Kiiti led the women with 36 points.

Kiiti also took the Longest Drive prize in the women’s category, with Fred Kilonzi winning the same prize for men. In the Hole Nine category, BK Kimbiko led with 22 points followed by S. Theuri on 20.

ICEA Lion Group Assistant Manager Richard Oyare took home the tournament’s Staff prize.

Oyaro reiterated his company’s commitment to supporting Machakos Golf Club and encouraged Kenyan golfers to join the ICEA Lion’s Group, which he said has services that covered both employers and their employees.

“As a financial service group, you can trust us,” he said.

Kisumu golf

In Kisumu, Golf Park golfer Daniel Saikwa, playing off handicap zero, braved a stiff challenge from Patrick Owino and Nelson Simwa of Vet Lab to win on the final day of the Nyanza Open tournament.

Saikwa posted six-over par to emerge the overall winner after registering 146 gross points.

“I’m happy to win. It is my first in Nyanza and I’m grateful that the three golfers pushed me to win the game even though I started off on a wrong note but stabilised  midway,” said Saikwa.

Defending champion and Vet Lab golfer Nelson Simwa posted seven-over par to finish second with 147 points. He tied with R. Owiti but Simwa got the edge on countback.

Day one score

Saikwa had on Saturday posted one-over par to emerge the day one winner of the Nyanza Open, sponsored by Rana Auto Selection through businessman Rana Sultan. The Golf Park member posted a gross total of 71 points from the two nines to carry the day.

Sponsor Rana Sultan brought a brand new Toyota Premio to the Nyanza Golf Club with the aim of giving it to any golfer who could score a hole-in-one (one stroke play) on hole 16, but that remained an elsusive goal.

Kenneth Bolo nearly drove the car home. He used his five iron to drive the shot from the tee but had a draw shot after hitting the pin that caused the ball to roll just one inch from the hole.

A disappointed Bolo, who scored 79 gross points, also scored another two club at hole 17, again missing a hole-in-one.

“I can’t tell what happened; the ball was on the verge of going in. It hit the pin and went off the mark by an inch. Luck was not on my side,” he said.

Sultan said the car offer was a one-off event.

“I offered the car to be won on Saturday but no one did it. Too bad that a Sh1million vehicle could evade seasoned golfers,” said Sultan.

Defending Champion Nelson Simwa from Vet Lab who was playing handicap  two was following in the second position after posting two-over having registered a gross total of 72 points in both nines.