Big field expected at Ruiru tournament

Ruiru Sports Club’s par 72 course, one of the five 18- hole golf courses in Kiambu County, and a popular golf destination in the country, is where the top action will be this weekend, following the successful July Monthly Mug sponsored by Club member Polycarp Igathe held last weekend.

A field of 224 golfers has been drawn to battle it out for the top honours in the Ladies Stableford tournament being sponsored by the club’s Lady Captain Edith Ngugi and her family. Like last weekend’s Mug, this weekend’s Stableford event is also open to all club members as well as sponsors and members of the Detour.

The newly elected lady captain Edith Ngugi has lined up an array of prizes for each category, but like last weekend’s event, there will be no prize-giving ceremony as the club management strictly adheres to the Ministry of Health guidelines on gathering, hence winners will be notified electronically. This is because of the current Covid-19 pandemic which caused the cancellation and postponement of various sporting activities all over the world.

During the July Mug, Dr. Joseph Karienye managed to put together an impressive score of 41 to claim the men’s title, winning ahead of players like Patrick Miitii and Fredrick Kung'u who will be in action once again this weekend. In the ladies section, Pauline Mungai has been in great form lately and so is Salome Kamau who last weekend posted an excellent score of 42 points, to claim the ladies top prize.

Club captain Thomas Mwaura says the course is in an excellent condition and easy for high scoring for those who are able to keep the ball in play. Teeing off for those drawn in the morning, starts at 6.40am and 1.30pm being the last tee off in the afternoon.

“We have a big field again this weekend, but all arrangements have been put in place to make sure that players particularly those playing in the afternoon are able to finish their rounds in good time,’’ said Club captain Mwaura.

At Vet Lab Sports Club, the captain Adam Nyaga and the lady captain Grace Wanjohi are hosting the May Monthly Mug and the Ladies Medal No. 3. The event comes after last weekend’s April Mug where players like Amit Modi, former captain Mark Karobia and Simon Mbugua played well and where Chrisphie Owuor shot nett 66 to take home the A division title, beating Modi by three shots.

“It is a very tough time for club captains at the moment, and that is why we decided to navigate the coronavirus pandemic together. We opted to start without sponsors for a month to manage the situation slowly for the sake of safety, hence we are doing unsponsored Mugs, medals and club nites in July,’’ said Nyaga.

He however said the club will do a big one week relaunch bonanza in the first week of August  which will start with a Caddies Competition on a Monday, followed by Juniors the following day, club-nite on a Wednesday, Super Casino on a Friday and the main Competition on Saturday.

“I am at the moment looking for a title sponsor for the re-launching bonanza,’’ added Nyaga, a former Nation Classic golf champion.