Royal’s Wakhu bags Chairman’s Prize title at Railway

What you need to know:

  • Wakhu, who attributed his victory to his sharp short game, fired level par 72 in the second round for a total of 145.
  • During Saturday’s round, the golfer dropped a shot at the fourth, but managed to level the nine with a birdie at the eighth and at the back nine, bogeyed the 11th par four, but again managed to pull one back at the 16th to win

Royal Nairobi’s Golf Club’s David Wakhu beat Justus Madoya by two shots, to claim the Kenya Golf Union Chairman’s Prize title at the par 72 Kenya Railway Golf Club course on Friday.

Wakhu, who attributed his victory to his sharp short game, fired level par 72 in the second round for a total of 145.

“I have been practising the short game a lot since I missed both the Kenya Open and Zambia Sugar Open by one shot, and I am glad it has paid off,” said Wakhu.

He said the fairways were soggy and one had to know how to pick the ball clean from the ground while the greens, though good, they were a bit hard.

“As professionals we are suppose to adjust to any condition of a course,” added Wakhu, who said he would like to return to the Zambia Open in Ndola if he gets a sponsor.

During Saturday’s round, the golfer dropped a shot at the fourth, but managed to level the nine with a birdie at the eighth and at the back nine, bogeyed the 11th par four, but again managed to pull one back at the 16th to win the first cash prize courtesy of Sidian Bank, who had offered the pros Sh200,000.

SECOND ROUND

The Great Rift Valley-based Madoya three putted the par five-first and later at the sixth, a short hole. He, however, birdied the 14th and 18th against a bogey at the 17th for one over par 73 and a total of 147.

Also levelling the course in the second round was Sigona’s John Wangai for 148 to finish in third place. Golf Park’s Joseph Karanja and Railway’s Njuguna Ngugi tied in fourth place on 151.

Karanja carded 75 and Ngugi 76 with Nelson Mudanyi on 152 finishing in sixth place. Joint first round leader Kopan Timbe had a tough outing, firing nine over par 81 to drop to joint eighth with Kenya Air Force’s Kelvin Mabele on 154.

Besides Sidian Bank, the event has also attracted other sponsors such as Netpaq Limited, Izon Future Systems, the Giraffe Ark Game Lodge,  Prime Bank and Pewin Motors among many others.