Karanja wins pros’ title in Thika

Golf Park Joseph Karanja follows the flight of his shot from the 2nd hole fairway on June 20, 2012 during the Amateur Championship at Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club. Karanja birdied five holes against four bogeys for one under par 71 to win his first event during the Eric Kabera and Wambui Wambugu Memorial tournament at Thika Sports Club at the weekend. FILE PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  LARRY NGALA

What you need to know:

  • Karanja, birdied the third, fifth and ninth against a bogey at the sixth and a double bogey at the seventh.
  • The amateurs title was won by Thika Sports Club patron Gacanja Githuku who posted 38 points while leading the Mombasa team was Simon Maina with 34 points after a countback with Mombasa Golf Club chairman Peter Kimanga.

Golf Park professional Joseph Karanja birdied five holes against four bogeys for one under par 71 to win his first event during the Eric Kabera and Wambui Wambugu Memorial tournament at Thika Sports Club at the weekend.

Karanja, birdied the third, fifth and ninth against a bogey at the sixth and a double bogey at the seventh.

At the back nine he birdied the 10 and 15th and dropped a shot at the 17th, to win by a shot from Mathew Omondi, Richard Ainley and David Wakhu who all shot level par 72.

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Jacob Okello and home pro Simon Ngige tied for fifth place on one over par 73. A total of 34 pros turned up in the event sponsored by Njuca Consolidated limited and friends of Patrick Wachira and attracted all together a field of 301 golfers though only 280 finished 18 holes.

The amateurs title was won by Thika Sports Club patron Gacanja Githuku who posted 38 points while leading the Mombasa team was Simon Maina with 34 points after a countback with Mombasa Golf Club chairman Peter Kimanga.

MORE WINNERS
From Mount Kenya region, Dickson Mwangi posted 30 points to beat Sam Ngugi by four points. J. Kyengo led the Nairobi team with 37 after a countback with B. Mukgetha.

At Nyali Golf and Country Club, Joseph Oluoch took the overall title in the Kenya Tourism Board of Kenya tournament.

Oluoch, a single figure handicap golfer, carded 39 points, to beat men winner Kevin Carrol, second placed Akram Sheikh and Mukesh Sanghavi by one point. Taking the ladies title with 36 points was Jane Mburu who won by two points from Lilian Krijnen.

At Vet Lab, Mike Njogu beat Peter Kangethe and David Kinuthia, both single figure handicap players, on countback with 39 points to win the Multichoice golf tournament.

TOP QUALIFIER
The handicap nine Kangethe in turn won the men’s first prize and Kinuthia playing off eight settled for the second.

Rose Muthemba topped the ladies list with 35 points, winning by two points from Mercy Kebaara while K.C.

At Machakos, former chairman Charles Mulela carded 41 points to win the General Motors tournament by a point from John Maingi. Another past chairman Sawarn Singh was third on 39 points after beating Jackson Nzioki on countback.

At Nanyuki, handicap 24 golfer Wainaina Njoroge emerged the top qualifier of the Barclays Bank Golf Circuit after posting 18 and 22 points. He won by two points from Richard Kabugi.

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