Muigai crowned King of Ruiru

Handicap 27 Anthony Muigai shot a sterling round total of 40 Stableford points to clinch the second leg of the ICEA King of the Course 2020 at the par 72 Ruiru Sports Club course over the weekend.

Muigai (pictured), who has been playing for less than a year prevailed over a record-breaking field of 308 golfers at the tournament in its fifth year.

The event at Ruiru was second of the series after the year opener in Machakos a fortnight ago where the King of the Course tournament begun in 2015.

The tournament was preceded by a Club-nite competition at Thika Greens Golf Resort on Friday and was graced by a team of golfers from Malawi led by the president of Malawi Golf Union, Hudson Katwanje and among them former Malawi national team player Brian Coombes.

Coombes, who emerged as the best international golfer at the meet. Machakos Sports Club skippered by its chairman, Sawarn Singh, had the highest number of golfers at 52.

This is the third visit by the Malawian golfers to sample the golf courses as well as benchmark on how to grow the sport in their home country.

“Such interactions between Kenya and Malawi Golf Unions are very critical to us, as we seek to benchmark on how and why Kenya has grown to become the golfing powerhouse it is,” said Hudson.

“And of particular note is the Magical Kenya Open, which has grown in stature and also in terms of participation and placement on the European Tour calendar of events. We are here to learn from the best,” he added.

Mungai, posted 19 stableford points from his front nine with better back nine from where he raked in an additional 21 stableford points for victory.

Spurred by the Best Effort prize he won at 2019 Ruiru club year ender and a desire to prove himself Muigai hit the range running.

And bolstered by tips from Thika Greens professional golfer Paul Thuo, whom he played alongside during the Safari Tour Pro-Am, Muigai set out to prove a point by playing his A game.

He saw his handicap drop from 27 down to 25 with an exception deduction of 2 more bringing it down to 23.

“I’ve been practicing a lot lately with the sole intent of playing better and hopefully win. I’m happy my hard work has paid-off thanks to the tips I got from Pro Thuo,” Muigai said of his win.

ICEA King of the Course moves to the nine-hole Nanyuki Golf Course next weekend before heading to Nandi Bears and Mombasa’s Front course.

“Golf embodies that which ICEA Lion Group stands for — honesty, right conduct, integrity, transparency and trust. Values that ICEA champions through delivery of its services and commitment to its valued clients,” Dr Caesar Mwangi, Ceo ICEA Lion Group, said.

During the event, Lilongwe Golf Club – Malawi inked a reciprocation agreement with Ruiru Sports Club in addition to Limuru Golf and Country Club, Nyeri Golf Club and Machakos Golf Club.

At the Nakuru Golf Club, Hillary Korir playing off handicap 6 shot 39 stableford points to clinch the 2020 Year opener.

Handicap 2 Sarat Singh came in second on a score of 37 stableford points as Douglas Tilbury settled for third place with 37 stableford points.