Top amateurs to battle for Coronation Cup in Nakuru

Kenya’s top amateur golfers will head to Nakuru this weekend for the 2014 Coronation Cup as the professionals camp at Nanyuki Sports Club for the Chairman’s Prize that is hosted by club chairman Francis Mathenge and sponsored by J.G. Mbugua Enterprises.

A field of 112 players, including Uganda’s top amateur, Willy Kitata, will be competing in the 54-hole Coronation Cup, a Kenya Golf Union Golfer of The Year (Goty) event, which besides the points it offers, also counts towards the World Amateur Ranking.

During the last Goty event, the Trans Nzoia Open at Kitale, Golf Park’s Kenneth Bollo beat his club mate Tony Omuli by two shots to claim his first win in the series.

Bollo is one of the stars attractions in Nakuru and it will be interesting to see if he will extend his good form from Kitale. Also drawn is Omuli, Nelson Simwa and Alfred Nandwa who tied for third place in Kitale.

GREEN SCHOOLS

The Nakuru course is in great shape, with wider fairways, though it is the greens that are likely to decide the winner this weekend.

Away in Kisumu, action continues at the Lake-Side Nyanza Golf Club course with the Kenya Forest Service tournament, which is the third to be sponsored by KFS.

The event, which has attracted players from the Western region, is part of the activities of the Green Schools and commercial tree growing for a green economy initiative, recently launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Service has so far provided seedlings which have been planted at various golf courses and sports clubs that have hosted the series.

The Nyanza event hopes to accelerate this campaign which is a crucial step in attaining the 10 per cent tree cover as stipulated by Vision 2030.

MAKING A COMEBACK

In Machakos, newly elected captain Leonard Munyao Kamba, who is making a comeback after a 12-year break having served in 1999 to 2002, will host his first event, the Machakos County Series, sponsored by Mwangaza Contractors, Silver Star Agencies and Spion Contractors.

Over 100 players have been drawn in the tournament which is the start of a series of events the club is hosting.

Back in Nairobi, the eight pros who did not travel to Nanyuki were battling it out in Thursday’s first round of the Musimba tournament, sponsored by Kibwezi West's member of Parliament Patrick Musimba, where Muthaiga’s Anil Shah shot five under par 67 to take an early lead in the 54-hole battle.

At stake for the eight pros is Sh150,000.

Home pro Eric Ooko was second on 71, just a shot better than David Wakhu. Charan Thethy and senior pro Elisha Kasuku tied for fourth place on 74.

The second round is on Friday, followed by the third on Saturday, when the pros will be joined by club members.