Vivo Energy boosts KDF golf day

An incredible field of 244 golfers will descend on the tough Muthaiga Golf Club course on Saturday to battle it out for the annual Chief of Defence Forces Golf Trophy tournament, the climax of a series of events organised by the Kenya Defence Forces Golf Association (KDFGA) in various clubs in the country.

Besides Muthaiga members and invited guests, the huge fields includes members of the KDFGA drawn from Kenya Air Force Golf Club and Thika Barracks Golf Club.

KDGFA under its patron Major General George Owinoh, has been organizing events aimed at promoting the skills and growth of golf among the military as well as the golfing fraternity.

This year KDGFA hosted four major tournaments namely the Kenya Air Force Commanders Prize at Muthaiga in June, the Navy Commanders Prize at Mombasa Golf Club in September, the Army Commanders at the Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort in Naivasha in October culminating into this weekend’s CDF Trophy.

A total of 18 trophies will be on offer at Muthaiga; three each in the main categories namely KDF, club members, guests and ladies. CDF Trophy is sponsored by Vivo Energy alongside Nation Media Group, Toyota, NSSF and Safaricom.

As the main sponsor, Vivo Energy on Thursday presented a cheque of Sh600,000 towards the organisation of the event. The cheque was presented by Vivo Energy vice president, East and South region David Mureithi to Maj Gen Owinoh.

Mureithi, himself a golfer, termed the partnership as a “great step” in redefining their relationship with the Kenya Defence Forces. “We are excited to sponsor this year’s CDF Trophy. It’s a testament of our commitment to our relationship with the KDF and we wish all the golfers the best of luck on the course at Muthaiga’’ he said.

Because of the big field, teeing off starts as early as 7am for both first and 10th tees with an early afternoon tee off at 11.32am. Going for the members prize will be some of the leading amateur golfers at Muthaiga such as Evans Vitisia, Kamau Thugge, Kumar Dhall, Selest Kilinda, Tanvir Sodi, Walter K’Anjejo, George Njuguna Njugu, Amos Kimunya and Mwai Mbuthia among others.

Maj Gen Owinoh will lead the hunt for the CDF trophy among the KDFGA members who include Col Joseph Muracia, Lt. Col Mabango, and Col (Rtd) Peter Karungo among others.

Elsewhere, Thika Sports Club will be staging the annual Charles and Gladys Kigwe Memorial Golf Tournament. The tournament that has been held at the par 72 Thika course since 1995 is sponsored by Joe Kigwe’s family who are offering attractive prizes for the winners.

At Kiambu Golf Club, a field of 120 golfers were drawn for the Inooro Golf Day courtesy of club member S.K. Macharia. Over a dozen prizes will be at stake this weekend.

Nyeri Golf Club will host the annual Sana Nagata Trophy which is marking its 37th year with a field of 150 golfers drawn from all the clubs in the mountain region.

In Nakuru County, Njoro Country Club will host the Sarova Woodlands Hotel and Spa golf tournament where lots of fabulous prizes will be at stake.