Home player soars high at Mwaura’s Captain Prize event
James Kinuthia braved stiff competition to beat a large field of 261 golfers to emerge the overall winner of this year’s Captain’s prize (Peter Mwaura) competition at the Ruiru Sports Club at the weekend.
Kinuthia playing off handicap 26 carded 20 stableford points on the front nine, before amassing 22 points in the back nine for a total of 42 stableford points
“Today my putting was good, actually that is what made me win the competition.
This is the first event I have ever won since I started playing golf and I’m very happy to have beaten guys who taught me how to play the sport,” Kinuthia said in his winner’s speech.
Isaac Nguku playing off handicap 12 emerged the men winner in category A on 38 points made up of 18 points in the front nine and 20 points in the back nine and handicap, while handicap 20 Kimani Munyuah was the category B men winner on 40 stableford and M.
Waititu playing off handicap 24 emerged the category C men winner on 37 points.
L. Kwendo won the Bronze prize on 34 points, while the Silver category was won by Pauline Mungai on 36 points and handicap 15 C. Kiiyukia won the former captain’s category on 30 points.
Thika’s B. Kimani playing off handicap 20 was crowned the guest winner on 40 points, while Fr Mukua was the clergy winner on 30 points and the staff winner’s prize went to handicap 14 Martin Kiambi on 34 points.
Out going captain Mwaura termed the tournament as a success despite the massive field, everything went on smoothly.
“It’s been thrilling three years in the office and it’s exciting to have been part of the sort of transformation happening at the club,” said Mwaura as he handed the green jacket to the new captain Thomas Mwaura.
He added: “The focus was to grow the game of golf in the club and deliver key projects like course irrigation. These have come to be. The club can only get better.”
KCB Group Director Regional Business Paul Russo who also doubles up as National Bank of Kenya Managing Director hailed the sports club for a brilliant event adding that the bank will continue to invest in golf in a bid to nurture fresh talent.
Golf skills
“It was an exciting day at the course for the golfers, as KCB Group, we are pleased that our sponsorship novelty in golf continues to impact golf skills of our local pros as well as amateurs,” said Russo.
The competition was sponsored by KCB, NBK
Meanwhile, former junior player Agnes Nyakio, now playing off handicap four, proved that she had come of age as she emerged the overall winner of the 2020 Kabete Ladies Open on 76 gross.
Handicap five Mercy Nyanchama was the silver gross winner on 82 gross, while Grace Wanjohi playing off handicap 23 emerged the bronze gross winner on 96 gross and handicap 19 Dorris Mideva won the silver net prize on 72 nett.
