Ngige tops in Thika tourney

By James Waindi

For a golfer who just turned professional in 2008, beating a field of 30 professionals and wining the KCB regional golf tour opener in Thika is a special feat.

Simon Ngige, playing at his home course, resisted a strong challenge from Nyanza’s David Odhiambo, Muthaiga’s Nicholas Rokoine and Mumias’ Dismas Indiza to win the tour-opening KCB Biashara Club Invitational event on the three under par 285 (71, 66, 76, 72), just a shot better than Rokoine.

"I played the final round under pressure from Odhiambo, who had tied with me after the third round, Rokoine and Indiza, who were just two shots behind on the start of the final day. My target was to score two under on the final round to be safe, but rain hindered my play," said Ngige, who earned Sh105,750 for the win.

Simon Ngige, winner of KCB Biashara Club Invitation tournament, follows his shot at the Par 72 Thika Sports Club. Photo: Govedi Asutsa/Standard

On the final day, Ngige sunk birdies on the par five hole one, par four hole two, par four hole eight and dropped three shots of the par four hole three, par three hole four and par four hole five for a score of 35 in the first nine.

Heavy rain stopped the play for one hour, but this didn’t hinder Ngige as he sunk a birdie on the par four 12th hole, but had boogies on the par five hole 15 and par four hole 17 for a total of 37 in the second nine.

Rokoine shot one under on the final round for a total of two under par 286 to emerge runners-up and pocket Sh67,500. He had two birdies on the par four hole two and par five hole four and dropped two shots on the par four hole seven and par four hole eight for a score of 36 in the first nine.

In the second nine, he sunk a birdie on the par five hole 15 and levelled all the other holes for a score of 35.

Nyanza’s David Odhiambo and Mumias’ Dismas Indiza shared the third spot on one under par 287 to earn Sh41, 625 apiece. Odhiambo’s scores after the four rounds were 68, 74, 71, 74, while Indiza’s scores were 73, 72, 70 and 72.

Second leg

South Africa-based Anil Shah, who teed off to a flying start with six under on the first day, stumbled in the last three rounds to finish out of the money bracket with a disappointing total of three over par 291. The second leg is set for Muthaiga early next month.

Meanwhile, the team of Kisia Roberts, John Anyonyi, John Siahi and Abraham Maichi are the winners of the eighth Tusker Malt Golf Carnival qualification round. The team posted a team total of 112 points to win the championship, which featured players from Eldoret Golf Club, Nandi Bears and Kitale Club.

The winning team total was made of impressive rounds by Kisia Roberts, a handicap two golfer who posted a level-gross score to amass 38 stableford points and by handicap five golfer, John Anyonyi, who posted a two-over par gross score to attain 39 stableford points.

Maichi, a handicap 11 golfer, posted 35 points to take the team tally to 112. The weakest link in the top team was Siahi with 31 points. However, this score proved decisive in determining the top position since the second team also had 112 points.

The team of handicap 14 Kamal Manik, handicap 22 Ravi Chaniyara, handicap 18 Vandip Sagoo and handicap 13 Ajay Shah posted 38, 41, 33 and 30 points for a team total of 112 points. However, their weakest link, Ajay Shah (30 points) was weaker than the winning team’s Siahi (31).

The third team at Eldoret posted 105 points made up of scores from James Waweru and Kamau Watunu (each 34 points) and Geoffrey Kitiwa (37). George Njoroge was the weakest link with 33 points.

The individual winner at Eldoret was Kenya Golf Union Rift Valley representative Prof Kimutai Some with 40 points, beating Sila Maiyo on count-back. Fifteen teams from Eldoret qualified for the Rift Valley Regional Finale set for Nakuru Golf Club on March 6. Of the 15 teams.

The Tusker Malt Golf Carnival now moves to Vet Lab Sports Club on Saturday for the ninth qualification round.