Wairia prove too good for his buddies in Vipingo

Nomadic Golf Series Longest drive contest winner Onassis Ndegwa in action at Vipingo PGA Ridge Golf Resort in Kilifi County on Saturday. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

A game alongside childhood buddies saw Steve Wairia emerge victorious at the David Jones designed Vipingo Baobab PGA course over the weekend.

Wairia, was in his best form as he inked 38 stableford points to win the fourth leg of Nomadic Golf series.

The meet organised by Nomadic Golf Ostatech and presented by Telkom Kenya, Drone Vision, Denri, Jada Pack and Grab-A-Taste attracted 76 golfers.

His win came courtesy of three pars from his first nine and a five more from his second nine in addition to several bogeys, thanks to his course handicap 14 and home course advantage though his handicap index 12.4 in domiciled at Sigona Club.

He sank his pars on the fifth, seventh and eighth holes on the front nine picking the rest of his pars on the 10th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th holes. With bogeys on the fourth, ninth and 16th holes.

Playing with some of his long lost friends from Thika Greens Golf Resort, Wairia had a great outing as they reminisced on the past during their round of 18 making the moments memorable with lots of fun which contributed towards his stellar performance.

“It was exciting playing alongside old buddies, some of whom we’ve not met in over 30 years. It was pure bliss and the fun made everything beautiful throughout our round,” Wairia observed

His biggest advantage was staying on the fairways throughout his round which saved him a lot of strokes on the wide but unforgiving course.

The course’s windy condition made matters worse for most of the visiting golfers as their choice of clubs’ couldn’t help and neither did the fast greens bear with their situation.

The series which seeks to promote golf tourism has so far been hosted at Kenya Railway Golf Club, Thika Greens Golf Resort and Nanyuki Sports Club.

After the Vipingo leg, the series will head on to Nyali Golf and Country Club in mid-September before the grand finale at Great Rift Valley Golf Resort in Naivasha, Nakuru County.

Nyali Golf and Country Club’s Omar Lewa was Men winner upon returning to the club house with 36 stableford points. Taking the Men winner's second prize on a score of 36 stableford points was James Moguiyi.

Lady winner prize went to Betty Bundotich after carding a score of 36stableford points ahead of Christine Oseko who returned a score of 34 stableford points.

In the commercial category, Onassis Ndegwa, Captain Kenya Railways Golf Club blasted his tee-shot 311-yards on the par-four 18th hole, 52-yard shot of the green to win Longest Drive Men contest with Christine Oseko making a brace in after bagging Longest Drive Lady winner prize.

Shooting lowest gross for the day was German national Olaf Grothey playing off a solid handicap two on 75 gross.

Olaf, who is on holiday in Kenya, lauded the Nomadic Golf Series organisers saying that Kenya is among the top golf destinations which if promoted well, will benefit highly from what it has to offer and the destination and choices it offers.

At Nakuru Golf Club, the duo of Rahul Maisuria and Hussein Hasanali were the winners of the International Pairs tournament after garnering 46 points followed by the pairing of Felix Maiyo and Leonard Soo with 45 points.

Coming in as the best third placed team were Nelson Koech and Isaac Kuto who carded 44 points. A total of 46 pairs participated in the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) sanctioned tournament where the winners will represent Kenya at the International Pairs Championships in Portugal.