Nganga crowned 2023 Kenya Reinsurance Golf Tournament champion

Royal Nairobi Golf Club player Wallace Nganga (Left) presented with a gift by guest of honour Chris Kiptoo after winning the 2023 Kenya Reinsurance Annual Golf Tournament at Muthaiga Golf Club on Friday.[Jonah Onyango,Standard]

Royal Nairobi Golf Club player Wallace Nganga is the winner of the 2023 Kenya Reinsurance Annual Golf Tournament held on Friday at the par 72 Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi.

Playing off handicap 25, Nganga carded 20 points in the first nine and 24 at the back nine to emerge overall winner on 44 stableford points, beating Edward Manywanda of Railways Golf Club on countback.

“I feel really good, especially raking such a victory on a Magical Kenya Open championship course like Muthaiga,” the father of three told Standard Sports.

“It’s my very first time bagging an overall win since I started playing golf in 2021, just immediately after the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown,” he stated.

Nganga admitted the lush Muthaiga course was not easy to attack had it not for the inspiration he got from his playing batch.

“The team helped me to focus, they pushed me to play well, everyone was hitting very good shots. I kept doing my best to keep up with the squad, I tried to avoid the water barriers and getting a few pars here and there and a couple of birdies did the trick,” he said.

Nganga’s target in the game is to lower his handicap to a single digit in the coming years, but he insists there is no pressure on this.

Ahead of the tournament, Nganga did his usual practices of training twice or thrice in weekdays which kept him much ready for the championship.

Concerning the challenges he had on the pitch, Nganga stated: “There were lots of water hazards but I’m glad I had a very good caddy who guided me on the choice of clubs to use.”

He firmly believes the well orgainsed tournament serves a very good course which is to link the Insurer with clients.

Nganga is advising people who have hit their thirties and above to embrace the game of golf saying the sport has lots of benefits like keeping fit and networking.

Kenya Reinsurance Managing Director Hillary Wachinga was glad with the massive turn out during the tournament, pledging to make the event bigger and better next season.

The 2023 Kenya Reinsurance Annual Golf Tournament

Overall, Winner: Wallace Nganga                  44 stableford points

Runners Up: Edward Manywanda                  44

Third Place Winner: Paul Kamau                   41

Fourth Place Winner: Edward Ngari              41

Best Lady: Nelius Kariuki                              42

Best Insurance Industry: Steve Okundi          40

Staff Winner: Linus Kowiti                            33

Nearest To The Pin Lady: Rebecca Juma

Nearest To The Pin Man: Mukami Wacchira

Longest Drive Man: Fidhelis Kimanzi

Longest drive Lady: Mukami Wachira

First Nine Wiinner: Steve Lugalia                  24 nett

Second Nine Winner: Kevin Nyakeri             24 nett

Team Prize: Edward Mwangi, Dr. Okal and S. Okundi