NAIROBI, Kenya, July 18- Abeid Gatimu emerged tops at the NIC Bank Golf Day held at the Limuru Country Club.
The handicap 22-golfer made four pars on each nine but was unfortunate not to score on some of the easier holes at the venue.
Gatimu failed to score on Limuru’s signature hole, the downhill par-five third whose green is guarded by a huge dam to the right and again on the par-three 16th, a tricky hole that plays uphill to a well bunkered green.
Despite these challenges, Gatimu went on to amass a huge 43 stable-ford points beating 188 other golfers on what was a beautiful day for golf on the rolling tea-hills of Limuru.
“I am a relatively new golfer and winning feels really good especially when nearly 200 people were on the course,” the winner said.
“The NIC sponsorship is great and I would like to encourage them to keep it up and hopefully visit Limuru again next year.”
Limuru’s Captain Ken Chege and his deputy, Lucas Maranga and both posted 40-points to finish in second and third.
Maranga’s long and lazy swing served him well on the day, posting18 points on the front nine and 22 points on the back nine whilst Chege posted 19 points on the opening nine and 21 points on the closing nine holes losing to his deputy on count-back.
Chege was quick to jokingly reprimand his deputy for beating him. “In future my deputy will be well advised to play well but not as well as the captain!”
Rose Mambo was the lady winner on 37 points beating Liz Gitobu on count-back. The nines went to Elias Mungai on 23 points and Vincent Kioko on 23 points.
Meanwhile, Hanvit Shah returned an impressive 40 stable ford points at the Dasani Golf Gala Championship held at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club to lead his team to victory.
The handicap-18 veteran golfer played steady golf on the long and challenging Royal course to anchor his team of RB Shah, Milna Shah and Kirit Patel to victory with 111 team points.
RB Shah scored 37; Milan added 34 whilst Patel was the team’s weakest link with 26. Speaking at the prize giving ceremony, Patel lauded his team promising to play better at the Grand Finale.
“My game was not great today, but luckily, the Dasani championship is a team event and my team mates pulled through for me,” Patel said. “At the Grand Finale, I will return the favour.”
The all ladies team of Anne Mwalimo, Rajinder Jagdev, Savender Bhavra and Anastasia Chubi finished second with 110 points.
Mwalimo led the team with 40, Jagdev contributed 38 and Savender scored 32 points to bring the team’s total to 110.
Among the individuals, Hardeep Sokhi finished top with 41 stable ford points beating Vitalis Ojode on count-back. Bernard Kiraithe was third with 40.
A total of four teams from Royal qualified for the Dasani Golf Gala Grand Finale which will be held at the Karen Country Club on the August 27.
Winners at the Grand Finale will win a VVIP trip to the TOUR Championship, presented by Coca-Cola, at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Gala now moves to the Railway Golf Club.
