Karichu leads top amateurs to Salver championship in Eldoret

Fresh from his recent victory in the Kenya Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship at his home course of Limuru, Kenya’s number one amateur golfer John Karichu is back in action this weekend at Eldoret Club.

The plus two handicap golfer who is also the defending champion of Kenya’s most prestigious amateur golf title, the Golfer Of The Year (Goty), is heading a star field of 80 players to the North Rift town of Eldoret for the 2014 Manchester Salver golf championship.

During the Strokeplay event at Limuru Country Club, Karichu fought a neck-to-neck battle in the 72-hole event with Kenya Railway Golf Club’s Alfred Nandwa before retaining  the Kenyatta Memorial Bowl with a big margin of 10 shots.

Nandwa, formerly of Njoro Country Club who recently clinched a sponsorship deal with The Wine Company limited, is one of the stars heading to Eldoret to take Karichu head-on again in this 16th leg of the 18-event Goty series.

Others on the Manchester Salver line-up include the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort’s Justus Madoya, Kericho’s William Odera, and Vet Lab’s Nelson Simwa and Robinson Owiti.

Madoya, who started well at Limuru before losing the grip in the final round after a 77, has been missing a number of Goty titles narrowly.

THIRD PLACE
He finished third in Limuru on 298, just two shots behind Nandwa while Odera was placed sixth, and Simwa currently in second place in the chase for the 2014 GOTY title, came home seventh just a shot better than Owiti.

All of these elite golfers who also form the national team will be all out to try and grab the Manchester from top contender Karichu and probably home player Musa Kisia who finished fourth in Limuru with a four-round total of 301 gross.

Back at Karichu’s home club, Access Kenya host its last event this weekend where over 200 players, including guests of Access Kenya, are expected to vie for a number for prizes.

This weekend’s event follows other tournaments organised by the leading telecommunications firm in this year, following the recent successful one at Muthaiga Golf Club.

According to Emily Kinuthia, the head of marketing and Communications of Access Kenya, the company is putting the final touches on its 2015 calendar which Kinuthia says will be announced soon.

“Our focus is to deliver business value to our clients in all sectors of the economy by remaining true to our vision of providing competitive and innovative ICT Solutions. We find that golf offers us a great opportunity to mingle and interact in pursuit of this goal,” said Kinuthia.