Sigona's Gopal Savani to lead team of 20 in Open Pro-Am

Sigona Golf Club’s Gopal Savani will lead a team of 20 finalists to the Barclays Bank Kenya Open Pro-Am to be held at Karen Country Club on April 8, just a day before the main Kenya Open championship.

Savani posted 37 points during the weekend’s grand finale at the par 72 Karen Country Club course to become the 2015 Barclays Bank Golf Circuit champion.

He won by the narrow margin of one point from Karen’s William Jamieson and Tim Chege who both posted 36 points to finish second and third places.

In fourth place with 35 points was Muthaiga’s Victor Laibuni who beat club mate J.N. Mwaniki, and Karen’s Mike Mugasa on countback.

Kitale’s Hanna Ruttenbar emerged the best lady with a score of 34 points, beating Kisii Sports Club’s Damaris Kemunto by three points.

Winning the junior title was Virj Imani with 36 points, winning ahead of Mwangi Kimemia on 31. Laban Omangi who won most of the staff prizes during the qualifying events, carded 34 points to crown it all as Limuru’s Sam Munyua led the guests with the day’s best score of 38 points.

Besides the prize winners, other players who booked their slots in the Barclays Bank Kenya Open Pro-Am are John Mutua, Eric Mutuku, John Maingi, E. Indeche, Watson Burugu, George Ketem, Dipak Halai, Liz Mbuthia, Anastasia Karimi and Geofrey Manyara.

The 2014/ 2015 Barclays Golf Circuit, which started way back in August 2014, attracted participants from 35 clubs and was hosted in 14 venues namely Nakuru, Machakos, Kitale, Nyanza, Sigona, Nanyuki, Thika, Nyali, Eldoret, Vet Lab, Karen, Royal Nairobi Club, Lumuru, Windsor and Muthaiga Golf Clubs.

Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, Barclays Bank of Kenya Marketing Communications and Citizenship Director Caroline Ndung’u said the level of play in the series had improved significantly over the months, while more players turned up for the series.

“We are proud to note that through the seven months of the circuit, we have increased interest in the sport among the junior golfers who have proven their competitive worth,” said Ndung’u.

At Muthaiga, veteran golfer David Farrar, now playing off handicap six, combined 19 and 21 for 40 points, to claim the overall title during the Prime Bank/JGF Golf tournament.