Muthaigas Kubwa lead team to victory

Muthaiga Golf Club’s pro golfer, Jeff Kubwa, led his team of Windsor’s Sanjana Sharma, Muthaiga’s Hetul Chandaria and Ian Vanderven to victory at the Pro-Am event of the Muthaiga leg of the Safari Tour golf series that was held Saturday.  Kubwa carded a total score of 48 to combine with the best amateur score for his team of 34 for a total of 82.

Kubwa’s team effort was enough to fend off the team of Sigona Golf Club’s pro golfer, Sujan Shah, comprising of the Muthaiga trio of Alex Gitari, Edmund Kabera and Jacob Njeru, which finished second after Shah carded a total of 45 to combine with the best amateur score for his team of 32 for a total of 77.

Meanwhile, Golf Park’s David Wakhu, the winner of the Nyali Golf and Country Club leg of the Safari Tour, led his team of Muthaiga’s Patrick Nderitu, Amon Ngechu and Simon Ndirangu to secure third place after he carded a total of 44 to combine with the best amateur score of 33 for a total of 77.

Speaking after the round, Kubwa said he was delighted with the win, adding that it is a great motivation as he tees-off for the main tournament today.

“I had a great outing on course today, and I am glad to be have led my team to overall victory of a Safari Tour Pro-Am that is being held at my home club. I will take the win today as a motivation as I head into the main professionals tournament tomorrow where I intend to give it my best to take the top prize,” he said.

For his Pro-AM efforts, Kubwa banked KShs 30,000 while Shah walked away with Kshs 20,000 while Wakhu took home KShs 10,000.

In the subsidiary members event, handicap 21 Muthaiga Golf Club’s, Christine Ochola emerged overall winner with 42 points while Raj Shah, at handicap 17 and also from Muthaiga, emerged Men’s winner with 38 points. Britam Holdings Group Managing Director, Dr. Benson Wairegi, also from Muthaiga, emerged runner-up in the Men’s category with 37 points while fellow club member, Kumar Dhall, came in third with 37 points.

In the Ladies category, Muthaiga’s Florence Maina emerged the winner with a total of 37 points while Vet Lab’s Mary Maingi was runner-up with 36 points. Ling Bai, also from Muthaiga, emerged third in the ladies category with 35 points. James Ngalawa from Muthaiga was the first-nine winner with 20 points while Michael Itote, also from Muthaiga, emerged second-nine winner with 21 points.

The Pro-Am tournament, which saw over 200 amateurs playing alongside over 40 local and regional pros, took place ahead of the main professionals’ tournament that teed-off today at the same venue, and which has attracted sponsorship from both Barclays Bank of Kenya and Johnnie Walker.

Speaking after the Pro-Am, Kenya Open Golf Championship Tournament Director said:

“The sponsorship by Johnnie Walker and Barclays Bank of Kenya for this leg is an indication that the Safari Tour has come of age and is now a property that a lot of sponsors and corporates should be looking at in the future especially as the Tour starts its 2019/2020 season in May this year,” he said.

Commenting on the impact the increase in prize money will have on professional players performance at this leg, he said:

“I expect to that we will get much better scores at this leg due to the increase in prize money which we believe will motivate many players playing under-par and going for the jackpot.”