Wakhu takes the lead at Nyali course

Golf Park-based David Wakhu on Friday produced the best round so far in the on- going Mumias Sugar tournament, a brilliant five under par 66, to grab a three shots lead going into Saturday's fourth and final round at the tough playing Nyali Golf and Country Club.

An eagle three at the par five-first hole seems to have propelled Wakhu to a clean thre under par 33 at the front nine that also included a birdie at the seventh.

He later picked up more birdies at the 11th, and 17th for two under par 33 to bring his three rounds total to 213, pushing pacemaker Dismas Indiza who fired one over par 72 to second place on 215.

Indiza dropped shots at the fourth and ninth at the 14th on the back nine where he birdied the 11th and 15th.

Muthaiga’s Nick Rokoine starts the final round in third place on 217 after firing the only other under par of the round (70).

The other best score was a level par 71 by Nakuru’s Richard Ainley who tied on 219 with Royal Nairobi’s Charan Thethy.

Home player Jimmy Kingori and Jacob Okello each shot 72 to join Peter Njiru on 220, just a shot better than James Ngigi and Kopan Timbe who each carded 74 for the day.

The pros who are playing for Sh350,000 courtesy of Mumias Sugar company will be joined by the amateurs who will be battling it out for over a dozen prizes.

Meanwhile, Machakos Golf Club which is in the process of changing from “Browns to Greens’’ will today host a most unique golf event.

Allowed to smoke

The inaugural Eastern Green Golf tournament is being sponsored by Green Africa Foundation and the Green Africa Sports. It is a unique event in that during the competition, golfers will be required to adhere to the green golf practises such as pull in vehicles to the event area, plant trees, contribute towards environmental projects, not to litter the course and players will not be allowed to smoke during the course of play.

The prize winners will appoint schools which will benefit from an environmental project while the prizes will also be environmental friendly. “The effect of sports and environment and environment and sports has become a global concern, calling for a long term commitment and effort,’’ says Isaac Kalua.

He says Sports play an important role at the individual, community, national and global levels.

However, a healthy environment is necessary for healthy sports. The interdependency between the regular practice of outdoor sports and the protection of the environment is obvious for all to realize, therefore sports become an ideal vehicle to raise awareness about environmental concerns that result from sporting activities.

The foundation has over the past one year been involved in promoting sports environment in collaboration with other organizations such as Safaricom.