Mary Monari wins matchplay championship

Mary Monari during a past tournament. FILE PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • The two youthful players exchanged the lead up to the 16th hole where Monari got the better of Naomi Wafula.
  • In the Silver Division section, Loise Akinyi beat Cheecky Spendlove 3-2.

Mary Monari of Rose Naliaka Foundation beat her colleague and Kenya’s number one female golfer Naomi Wafula 2-1 to be crowned the new Kenya Ladies Open Amateur Matchplay Champion at the weekend.

The two youthful players exchanged the lead up to the 16th hole where Monari got the better of Wafula to win the Kenya Orient Insurance sponsored championship at Karen Country Club.

On her way to the finals, Monari beat another upcoming player from Naliaka Foundation Sarah Khanyereri 1-up while Wafula beat Muthaiga’s Kellie Gachaga 7-5 in the other semi final match.

In the Silver Division section, Loise Akinyi beat Cheecky Spendlove 3-2 after a 4-3 victory against Dorcas Mbalanya in the semis.

Cheecky beat Wamboi Danner 2-1 in the other semis.

The new Bronze Division champion is Wambui Rugu of Kenya Air Force Golf Club who beat her colleague Margaret Kalekye 4-3.

At Kitale Club, Kisii Sports won the United Millers sponsored Western Kenya Golf Championship after collecting 504 points. Hosts Kitale came second with 497 points ahead of Mumias, Nandi Bears and Kakamega on 472, 456 and 452 points respectively.

The rest finished as follows; Nyanza 440, Njoro 424, Eldoret 413, and  Kericho with 404.

LEADING PROS

Leading the four professionals was Mumias Golf Club’s Dismas Indiza on 72 followed by Nyanza’s David Odhiambo with 65 points.

Eldoret’s Boniface Simwa came third with 52 while Kitale’s Bhavi Shah was fourth with 51 points.

At Nyali; August Mug and Ladies Medal sponsored by Heritage Insurance. Shehryar Akram 67, George Githinji 69, Raphael Thyaka 73.(C) Ijaz Sheikh 70, Clive Barnsley 72, Mohamed A Essa 74. Gross winner Matthew Githinji 73. Ladies Medal, Winner Silver Terry Odoo 70, Fatma Mohamed 72, Wambui Warui  74, Bronze- Perviz Barnsley 71, Rapthi De Silva 73, Alice Wahome 74.

At Railway; Rosemary Perpetual Trophy, winner Andrew Kimani (Handicap 7) 43 points, James Gacoka 39, Collins Ojiambo 37, Lady winner Mercy Wambugu 37, Shelsmith Muraguri 36 cb E.W. Ngaruiya 36.

At Nakuru; CFC Life &Heritage Insurance; overall winner Nancy Steinmann 41 points, runner up Sammy Ndungu 40. Joseph Munene 39. Men winner- Raphael Kimani 38, Ladu winner Margaret Cheptumo 39, Gross Luther Kamau 31.

At Thika; Centrofood Industries Golf Day:Overall Winner; G N Kimani 40, Men Winner; David Wainaina 39,  A Karanja 39, J M Kinga 39, Lady Winner; Milkah Mburu 38,  Gross Winner Patrick Kingori 34, Guest Winner; D Masindano  43.