NAIROBI, Kenya, May 3- Nelson Simwa, David Kihara, Pratik Mandaliya and Justus Madoya posted a high team score of 120 stable ford points to emerge winners of the third qualifying round in the second edition of the Dasani Golf Gala.
Simwa, a handicap-three golfer and younger brother to Kenya international Boniface was in top form at the scenic nine-hole Vet Lab course with the good score of 2- under par gross for 41-stable ford points.
Speaking at the prize giving ceremony, the younger Simwa said his performance was motivated by the ultimate prize in the Dasani Golf Gala, a VIP trip to the Tour Championship, presented by Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
“Our team is determined to make the trip, it is a trip of a lifetime,” Simwa said. “To be able to visit the USA and play on some of the best golf courses in the world is motivation enough.”
David Kihara, playing off 18, also posted 41 stable ford points and when Pratik Mandaliya, a 15-handicap golfer finished with 38 points, the winning team had posted 120 team points, a new high on the Dasani Golf Gala.
“We are told we have set a new record, we will attempt to better that score at the Grand Finales and book those tickets to the USA,” Simwa added. Justus Madoya, another handicap-3 golfer in the winning team was the weakest link with a score of 34-points.
The runner-up team, booking the second and final qualification slot into included Vet Lab captain Njani Nderitu who posted 37-points, Muchau Githika, the immediate former Vet Lab skipper who posted 39 points, Edgar Kalya with 32 points and Francis Kimani with 30 points for a team total of 108 team points.
Commenting after his round, Njani said his team had done well. “Usually as a golf captain, you have too much in your mind to play well, but today, I was able to put together a good round and we will have to pull up our socks in the grand finale.”
He added: “This is an excellent tournament and it will definitely motivate golfers around the country to play better, to fire up their team spirit, compete as teams and have fun.”
The consolation prizes for individuals went to Dick Omondi, handicap-18, posting 41 points, Rajni Shah, handicap-19, 37 points and Karan Samani, handicap-22, 36 points. The guest winner was Eddie Wachira on 36 points, beating Coca-Cola’s Anthony Mulinge on count-back.
The Gala now moves to the Machakos Golf Club where members of Machakos, Golf Park and KAF will compete for two qualification slots into the Grand Finale.
