Kamau is BlackBerry champion

Nakuru’s Luther Kamau beat a huge field of 130 golfers to claim the top prize in the Zain BlackBerry Golf Challenge at the Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort over the weekend.

The handicap 14 Kamau put together three back to back birdies to start off on a good note. He dropped three shots on the fourth, fifth and sixth holes before double-bogeying the par four-seventh though a back to back pars at the last two holes finish the front nine with 20 points.

He later made four pars and four bogeys on his way to an 18 points for the back nine and a total of 38-points. “I have not been playing too well, and my eight at the 17th is a testament to that, but I am to have got a few lucky bounces that saw me win the event,” said Kamau.

Naivasha’s Nanice Kanja returned 17 and 18 points for a total of 35 points to claim the ladies top prize while Nakuru’s Jay Varia took the top men’s prize on 37 points. Shamil Nanji on 36 points beat Ben Ogonji on count-back to finish second while the third prize went to Ashok Patel on 35 following a countback with Jimnah Mbaru.

Steady improvement

The two nines went to John Smith on 21 pints and SN Gacheru on 20 points. The next Zain BlackBerry Golf Challenge event will take place this weekend at the Nyanza Golf Club Kisumu. At Vet Lab, home player Patrick Mbarathi rode to victory at the third qualification event in this year’s Johnnie Walker Golf Series with a good score of 16 and 23 for 39 points.

Mbarathi made only one par in a nine dominated by bogeys, double and triple bogeys for a total of 16 points. However, he made a steady improvement at the back nine where he posted 23 points. A total of 11 players qualified for the grand finale and they included Ali Orende, J W Karanja and Dennis Saikwa all A division players and from Ngong Race’s Golf Park and home player Macharia Kaugu.

In B-division Vet’s Julius Kiboi and Malkit Riyat made it to the grand finale along with Douglas Ngumi (Golf Park), while in the C-division Patrick Mbarathi was joined by Martin Makundi (Vet Lab), and Boniface Kosgey (Golf Park).

Jane Karuku was the best lady hence completed the list of qualifiers. The 11 players will now join others from elsewhere in the country during the grand finale at Royal Nairobi on January 17 where the top five players will earn a VIP trip to Perth Australia for the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic International Pro-Am.

Weekend round-up:
Muthaiga; Comtec Golf Day; Overall Winner-Ashu Sharma-43, Gross Winner-Stefan Andersen- 72gross, Men Winner-John Muhinja 41, Evans Khasinah 40, Inder Walia 39, Lady Winner-Sarah Hwang 34, Grace Wokabi 33, Guest Winner-Nancy Ndungu 36, David Githaiga 34, Junior Winner-Raymond Wambugu 38, Staff Winner-Rahab Njogu 27, Pro Winner-Kopan Timbe 71gross, Gtf Winner-John Gitonga-72gross, Collins Omondi-73gross, Kiambu; Eastern Flour Mills Golf Day; Winner -  Bernard Wainaina- 38 Points, R/up - James Gichuhi - 37 Points, Third-  H. Maina - 37, G. K. Muiruri-37, G. Gatimu 37, Gross Winner - John Machua- 77 Gross; K.A.F. & Railway; Guest Winner -  P. Karungo (KAF) -36, K. Mabele-33, J. Maingi, S. Shafia -32,  Other Club Guest-Paul Juma 36 cb Davis Gichuhi-36 Points, Lady Winner -Margaret N. Mbugua-39, Junior Winner - J.K. Kiaro-34, Nines-W.R. Njeru- 20, S.N. Gitau- 20; Kakamega; Little Rock Emakhuli Golf Tournament; Winner J. Makombwa 67, R/Up S. Ambulwa 68, 3rd A. Mucheywa 70, 4th D.O Ajulu 71, 5th J. Tarus 72, 6th Z. Bichage 73, 7th J. Wanjea 75, Gross Winner – H. Litali 73, Nines Winner– E. Sang 39, R. Mulemi 43, Windsor; Division A - Handicap 0-9: Winner-Andre Mitcham-35 points, Joe Otuke-34, Sam Onyango-30; Division B - Handicap 10 - 19; Winner-Thomas Sonnesson-33, Runner-up-Johan Marcus -32 cb Hassan Popat 32; Division C - Handicap 20 - 36; Winner - Pontus Svensson 40, D. Kuzmanovic-36, Anders Hult-34 , Piga Mingi- Jim Gardner - 5 points; Nakuru ;Old Mutual Golf Day: Overall Winner; Humphrey J. Kuria 43pts, Esther Karuga 42pts, 3rd Prize; Njuguna Njoka 38pts, 4th Prize; Francis K. Mwongo 38pts, Nines; Moses Kiragu 19pts, John Mutiga 19pts. Royal: Sunset Golfing Society Sponsored By  Tysons Ltd, Bob Mathews Stockbrokers/Dasani. Sunset Members Category 1. Collin Omondi 42 pts. Phillip Kungu 40 pts, 3. Ezekiel Owuor 37 pts, 4 Paul Ouma 37 pts, 5. Sam Mbori 37 pts 6. Herman Odera 36 pts, 7. Paul Gondi 36pts, 8. Hesbon Odumbe 36 Guest Category 1. Moses Mwangi 42pts, cb Ted Macharia 42 pts, 3. Steve G. Mwaniki 41 pts Nines Beeny Orwako 21, D. T. Mutoka 20 pts. Winning District (Siaya) 36 points. 2nd Kisumu 35.75. Nyahururu; Fr. D. Munyeki Farewel Golf; Winners 1st.S.W.Nderitu 67pts, 2nd. J.M.Kigundu 70pts, 3rd.Moses Koskei 71pts.