Luck smiles Mativo's way in Ruiru

The golf season has kicked off on a high note with golfers coming out of their best in a bid to shine in various tournaments across the country through either pure luck as most of them claim or skills and talents.

One of them was Phelistus Mativo playing off handicap 33 who woke up in the morning of Saturday to play normal golf but little did he know that at the end of the day, he would be crowned king of the course.

The golfer produced a sterling 45 stable ford points to emerge the overall winner of the 3^rd leg of the ICEA LION king of the course golf course series golf tournament played at the Ruiru Sports club course in Kiambu county.

Mativo who beat over 150 golfers said,” Iam extremely grateful for the win which I did not even expect although I played very well with all my swing drives and putting that went smoothly. There were many good golfers but it’s one of the days that you wake up with good luck on your side and it was a great day for me.” 

Handicap 26 Johnson Wambugu was the member winner after carding 44 points while handicap 24 Gabriel Wabuti on 43 points and handicap 24 Linus Wachira with 42 points were third and runners up respectively.

Marion Ngaruiya playing off 29 topped the ladies carding a count back score of 43 points to win the Lady winner’s prize, displacing handicap 22 Salome Mwaura to the runners up slot after both tied.

Handicap 25 John Komu was the guest winner on 41 points while handicap 19 P.N.Gaitara with 47 points and handicap 27 Shirlleen Kariuki on 40 points were the Senior and Junior winners respectively.

The Division two lady winner’s prize on 47 points was claimed by handicap 42 Rosaita Mbukua while the same for men was won by handicap 38 Victor Silla who brought 45 points and Benson Mwangi playing off handicap 26 carded 38 points was the Sponsor’s winner.

This tournament follows the second leg of this year’s ICEA LION king of the course series corporate tournament played the previous day at the 18-hole par 72 Thika greens golf resort championship course in the same county.

Machakos golfer Bernard Mutua playing off handicap 19 celebrated a victory after carding an excellent 49 points to emerge the overall winner beating 200 golfers.

Handicap 12 Sunday Abuka on 40 points was the Member winner while handicap 14 Rachel Ndei on 39 points and handicap 18 Jackline Sirai with 38 points emerged the runners up and third placed respectively.

The guest winner was handicap 23 Anthony Muturi with a score of 44 points and handicap 28 Christopher Karanja carded 42 points to claim the runners up spot.

Handicap 32 Perpetual Mwatha claimed the Lady winner’s prize after recording 41 points beating handicap 35 Jane Munyori to the runners up by a single point difference.

The Staff prize on 40 points was won by handicap 23 Gerald Mutuma while handicap 19 John Kitaka with 23 points and handicap 27 George Keru on 33 points were the Junior and Senior winners respectively.

From Ruiru, the series now moves to Nanyuki Sports Club on 8 th, March 2025 before taking a break, after which it will head North to Kericho Sports Club for a curtain raising corporate tournament and will land the following day at Nandi Bears Club 30 th, and 31st, May.

The grand winner of the 2024 series will participate in the 2025 Lekoa Classic scheduled for 28 th, and 29 th, of March 2025 at Emfuleni Golf Estate, Heron Banks Golf and River Estate, in South Africa.

Elsewhere at the par 71 Sea-Link Mombasa course also on Saturday, James Gitonga led his team of Salim Taib, Mary Mariga and Wanjiku Kinyeru to emerge the overall team winners with a combined total of a count back score of 117 points in the KCB East Africa Golf Tour golf tournament.

They had tied with the team of Orpha Wamaitha, Abel Cheboi, Paul Koech and Ken Kimundi who were the runners up team group.

The top two teams have automatically booked their places in the tour’s grand finale that is slated for December 5, 2025 but the venue will be announced ahead of the event.

Willy Sang playing off handicap 13 carded a countback score of 46 points to emerge the Individual overall winner after tying on the same score with Men winner handicap 23 Salim Taib and handicap 36 Jackline Mutai brought 44 points to win the lady’s prize.

The guest winner on 42 points was handicap 22 Ernest Ondego while handicap 22 Nicholas Okello on 36 points and handicap 39 Joseph Rumo with 42 points were the staff and Junior winners respectively.

Just like last year, the winning team in the grand finale will receive a KShs. 1 million cash reward that will go to a sustainability team that their club is currently undertaking and additionally they will get an opportunity to participate in a prestigious golf tournament.

The next leg of the Tour will be held at the Nandi Bears Club on February 15, 2025.

Results

MALINDI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

NCBA monthly mug and medal.

Overall winner-Alession Bozzolasco (10)-66 nett.

Men winner-Tukero Ole Kina (14)-67 nett.                            

Runners up-Philip Matei (23)-67 nett C/B.

Third-Hamida Chidagaya-67 nett.

Lady winner-Silvania Franciolli (21)-71 nett.

Runners up-Auma Obama (300-72 nett.

Junior winner-Emmanuel John (33)-65 nett.

Nearest to the pin winner Men-Ali Abdallah (16)-8.45 M.

Nearest to the pin winner Lady-Susan Waithaka (27)-10.10 M.

NYALI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Britam golf circuit.

Overall winner-Mburu Kariuki (14)-42 points.

Winner best gross score-Mohdhar Abubakar-(6)-75 gross

Men winner-Rohit Devani-(19)-41 points.

Runners up-John Orioro-(10)-39 points.

Third-G.Gulamhussein-(24)-38 points C/B.

Lady winner-Jayne Githere-(26)-38 points.

Runners up-Truphena Oyaro-(14)-37 points.

Best senior-John Smith-(22)-34 Points C/B.

Best Junior-Aydan Jamal-(10)-36 points.

Staff winner-Evah Kimani-(43)-37 points.

Guest winner-Nicholas Amayo-(29)-41 points.

Winner invited Coastal clubs-Feisal Lasker-(8)-33 points.

High handicappers winner 28+Men-Sanjay Pandya-(35)-35 points.

High handicappers winner 36+Lady-Joan Kimani-(37)-36 points.

VETLAB SPORTS CLUB

E. Musa Memorial Trophy.

Overall winner-Eric Karuga (10)-63 nett.

Men winner-David Evans (90-68 nett.

Lady winner-Grace Waiganjo (27)-67 nett.

Junior winner-Viaan Vajpayee (20)-68 nett.

Senior winner-Mohan Shah (32)-69 nett.

Guests winner-Isaac Kimani (27)-69 nett.