Nyahururu hosts Panari event, Sigona hosts Ladies Open
What you need to know:
- Like the Sigona event, the Coronation Trophy is played over 54 holes with the first 36 set for Saturday and the final 18 holes to be played on Sunday.
The high altitude Nyahururu Sports Club course is where the action is this weekend, as the par 72 course which was the venue last weekend of the John Kieru Thanksgiving event, hosts the third edition of Panari Group Corporate tournament.
This being a long weekend, the event has attracted a huge field of 168 golfers drawn from as far away as Machakos, Vet Lab, Karen, Ruiru, Nakuru, Njoro, Nyeri and Nanyuki among others.
“This will be an event like no other, as we would like every golfer playing this year to always remember this particular event," said Panari Group managing director Patrick Marekia. He said the want to promote the scenic Nyahururu Golf Club course which plays a crucial role in promoting sports tourism in the region.
Like last year, Machakos is sending a strong team led by club chairman Swaran Singh and which include single figure handicap golfers such as Francis Njeru, Fred Kilonzi, Tim Ruhiu and James Ndunda.
The local players drawn include veteran golfer Robert Kimemia - who posted 37 points in tough conditions last year to claim the overall title. Karen’s Kingori Kariuki, who emerged the best guest with 36 points, is back to defend his title.
LADIES EVENT AT SIGONA
Meanwhile, Sigona Golf Club’s par 72 course will this weekend host the Kenya Open Amateur Ladies Stroke play championship.
This year the event has attracted as field of 72 ladies, 42 in Silver division and 30 in the Bronze division.
The field includes 21 visiting players from Uganda, Tanzania, Swaziland, and Sierra Leone, 14 of whom will be in the main event(Silver) while seven will be battling it out in the Bronze category.
Leading the Ugandan line-up will be Irene Nakalembe playing off handicap two, while former champion Madina Idd from Arusha Gymkhana - currently playing off three - will be the top player from Tanzania whose line-up also includes Vicky Elias, Neema Olomi and Angel Eaton.
Also seeking the Mary Nevill trophy from Sierra Leone will be the handicap eight Ann Leggett Quist who is playing in Kenya for the first time.
The visitors will be facing a strong challenge from the locals who include former champions Naomi Wafula and Kellie Gachaga, Joyce Wanjiru, Sarah Khanyereri, Mercy Nyanchama and Agnes Nyakio and the veterans Florence Maina, Jane Njoroge and Mary Karano.
Besides being a Golfer of The Year (Goty) event, the 54-hole championship is registered with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Scotland(R&A) and the United States Golf Association(USGA) as a World Amateur Golf Ranking.
As usual, the first 36 holes will be played on Saturday, followed by the third and final 18 holes on Sunday. The course at the moment, though still playing long, is in an excellent condition.
In Nakuru, a field of 70 golfers will be battling it out for this year’s Coronation Trophy, a Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series event. Leading the field will be current KAGC champion Edwin Mudanyi whose main challengers will be Limuru’s John Karichu, Dennis Saikwa of Royal, Robinson Owiti, Isaiah Otuke and Mike Kisia from Vet Lab and Railway’s Samuel Njoroge.
Like the Sigona event, the Coronation Trophy is played over 54 holes with the first 36 set for Saturday and the final 18 holes to be played on Sunday.
