Lady golfers brace for tight Ladies Coast Open Tourney

Kiambu’s Joyce Wanjiru follows her shot  drive to the second greens  during the second leg of the ongoing Ladies Coast open Competition at  the Sea-link  Mombasa course in Mombasa County on Tuesday,1st,August,2023.[Maarufu Mohamed, Standard].

Kenyan lady golfers face stiff challenges against their foreign colleagues in the ongoing Ladies Coast open Golf competition being played across the Coast Golf clubs.

Limuru’s Mwongeli Nzioka survived a narrow escape from Tanzanians onslaught after carding a six over par 78 gross to claim the overall gross title in A Division in the first leg of the tourney played at the Diani’s Diamond Leisure Beach & Golf Resort course in South Coast of Mombasa, Kwale County on Monday.

The Tanzanians Neema Olomi and Vicky Elias missed the lead after both returned the same score of seven over par 79 gross each to place them runners up and third respectively on count back.

Going to the second leg at the par 71 Mombasa Sea-Link Course on Tuesday, the Kenyans lost bitterly to A Ugandan golfer Martha Babirye playing off handicap 0 emerged the overall gross winner after returning a count back score of an eight over par 79 gross to register her maiden victory after playing the tourney for over five years.

“Golf is a sporting event to enjoy and brings people together, but if you want to win just leave your work or family stress behind and just play and you will emerge victorious. Am so happy for the victory and I owe my success to all those who are supporting me here at the Coast and back at home,” said Babirye.

Uganda’s Martha Babirye  sends a drive swing to the second greens  during the second leg of the ongoing Ladies Coast open Competition at  the Sea-link  Mombasa course in Mombasa County on Tuesday,1^st,August,2023.[Maarufu Mohamed, Standard].

Eldoret’s Esther Chumo playing off handicap 3 lost the lead on Cunt back after tying with on the same score with Babirye and won the A Division.

Handicap 0 Joyce Wanjiru from Kiambo also  had  a  count  back score  of 80 gross  same as Golf Park’s handicap 2 Margaret Njoki  and were the runners and third respectively.

The Division A nett winner  was handicap 14 Irene Brooker from Nandi Bears  who carded  71 nett while  handicap 16 Loveness Frank from Tanzania was the runners up on 72 nett and  taking the third slot  on 74 nett was handicap 16 Lydia Jebichii  from Nandi.

Rehema Okal from Machakos golf club playing off handicap 24 emerged the division B gross winner with 90 gross.

Kenya Railway’s handicap 21 Virginia Munyao came second after carding 96 gross while Vetlab’s handicap 21 Nelius Kariuki closed with 97 gross to sit third.

The Division B  nett winner on a count back score  of 73 nett was handicap 25 Regina Mumero from Nyali, tying  on the same score with second placed handicap 25 Petronilah kalee  and  taking  home the third prize on 74 nett was Rose Mwarania from Vetlab playing off handicap 25.

Nyali’s  former Lady Captain Susan Stokes did not leave empty handed after  receiving the Nearest to the pin prize  from her longest shot  that landed only 11 feet away from the 18^th greens.

The 18 hole strokes play competition with 150 golfers from the Country and  beyond was jointly sponsored by Tourism Fund, AAR Health care,DK Real Estates,Nu-Look,Sarova White sands,Plaza Beach,KCB, Kericho Gold, Atlas Tea Brokers and Friends of the Lady Captain.

Club Lady Captain Fiona Mbandi thanked all the sponsors and golfers for making the tourney successful and hoped that they will turn up in large numbers next year. 

Eldoret’s  Esther Chumo in action during the second leg of the ongoing Ladies Coast open Competition at  the Sea-link  Mombasa course in Mombasa County on Tuesday,1st,August,2023.[Maarufu Mohamed, Standard].

However, two  Coast youthful Lady Golfers Jaqueline  Walters  and Tandia  Haji all from Vipingo Baobab Ridge  Golf Resort Club  pulled out after both  developed rib and back injuries respectively.

Walters was rushed to the nearest hospital on Monday after playing eight holes in the first leg  of the tourney at Diamond Leisure  Course while her colleague Haji turned up to be a spectator in the  third leg at Nyali on Wednesday morning where the Ladies engaged on a daylong 36 holes.

The week long Ladies Coast Open tourney is organized under the umbrella of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) together with the KLGU Coast representative Teresia Odoo.

Club Lady Captain Mary Mariga said the Club was happy to host the tourney being played in the pristine course and assured the ladies will enjoy the facilities put in place with more fun and sterling prizes awaiting the winners.

On Thursday , the ladies takes a break and will move  to Malindi Country Club  on Friday  where  they will be hosted  by the Club Lady Captain Hamida Chidagaya and  Vipingo Golf Ridge in Kilifi County will be  the host for the final leg on Saturday, 5th, August.