Kirumba walks tall in Nakuru

Johnnie Walker ninth leg winner Kirumba Mukuria in action at the par 72 Nakuru Golf Club, February 22, 2020.[Mose Sammy, Standard]

Mukuria kirumba claimed the overall title during the ninth leg of the Johnnie Walker golf series played at the par 72 Nakuru Golf Club at the weekend.

Kirumba returned a solid score of 40 stableford points to prevail over a field of 135 golfers who participated in the event presented by East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL).

The tournament marked the return of the beer makers’ sponsorship at the club spanning over 60 years as EABL’s management lauded the efforts by the club’s management committee in reclaiming the clubs’ glamour.

“We appreciate the efforts of the current club management which has repositioned this club with a promising future that we believe will be vital as well as instrumental in our engagement in the development and growth of the game of golf.” observed Murage Kenneth, Key accounts Manager EABL – Rift region

Kirumba playing off handicap 12 and donning his signature Puma gear, had a sterling showing on the course as he carded a par on the opener, a par-four but dropped shots on the subsequent five holes.

The par-four second, par-four third, par-three fourth, par-four fifth, par-four sixth and the par-four eighth having sank a birdie on the par-four seventh.

After the halfway stop, Kirumba bogeyed the tenth a par-four. He then inked his second and final birdie for the day on the eleventh, a par-four.

Parred the par-four twelfth, bogeyed the par-four fifth, briefly redeemed himself with pars on the par-four twelfth, par-four fourteenth, par-three fifteenth and the par-five sixteenth.

To close his back nine with two more bogeys on the par-three seventeenth and the homestretch eighteenth, a par-five, rounding off his round of 18 with 19 stableford points from the front nine and an additional 21 stableford points from the back nine for a round total of 40 stableford points to triumph.

“For me it was an awesome day for me on the course today. My drives and approach shots were awesome. My short-game and putting was equally awesome. Everything was simply awesome.” said Kihumba

Next weekend, Vet Lab Sports Club plays host to the Johnnie Walker series grand finale eight qualifiers’ from Nakuru.

They are; Kirumba Mukuria, Prakash Shah, J Kamuyu, Esther Karuga, Titus Lusaka, Mary Kiruthi, David Mathai and John Kamais.

Great Rift Valley Golf Resort’s Jastas Madoya skippered his team to victory after returning 51 stableford points in addition to the best joint score by his team of 39 stableford points for a combined total of 90 stableford points to claim the Pro-Am prize at the eleventh and final leg of the 2019/2020 Safari Tour Golf Series Karen Country Club that saw 180 golfers participate.

Geoffrey Makokha aka Jeff Kubwa’s team was second on a combined team score of 87 points courtesy of Kubwa’s 51 in addition to his best team’s score of 36 stableford points.

Rwandan pro, Alloys Nsabimana, carded a score of 39 to combine with his team’s joint best score of 33 stableford points for a total of 82 stableford points to secure a third place finish.

Jastas banked Shs 30,000 with Geoffrey and Alloys taking home Shs 20,000 and Shs 10,000 respectively.

In the subsequent members’ event. Irene Auma emerged overall winner with 43 points while George Gitogo taking Men winner’s prize with 41 stableford points.

Stanley Nduati was Men second winner with 39 stableford points as Joyce Van Tongeren donning the Ladies gong on a score of 39 stableford points as Rose Musau settled for Lady winner second.

In the nines; Eric Karuga won the First nine with 21 stableford points. Second nine prize was won by Kezie Kihara with 23 stableford points.

While in the commercials; Justus Njogu won Longest Drive Men with Louisa Gitau winning in the ladies’ category. David Nduati bagged Nearest-to-the-pin prize.