Impressive Kitaka lifts Machakos leg of Bayer Golf Series

Home player, John Kitaka, shot an impressive round of 47 stable ford points to emerge the overall winner of the second leg of the Bayer East Africa golf series held at the Machakos Golf Club at the weekend.

Playing off handicap 19, Kitaka was impressive in both nines, raking in scores that saw him beat his closes challenger Patrick Marang’u with six points. The latter’s effort saw him claim top spot in the men’s category on 41 points.

Clinching the men’s runner-up spot was handicap 17 Joe Mboya who shot a round of 39 points on the pristine fairways that attracted 132 players who battled for the coveted gong.

Mboya edged his fiercest rival and handicap 11 hard hitter Victor Mutwii, who settled for men’s third place, by a point.

Angelina Mutuku, playing off handicap 32, was the finest among the women’s contestants in the cutthroat showdown that also inspired upcoming players in the sport.

Mutuku was good for 37 points as she lifted the women’s category gong after combing the fairways with her neat putts, swings and chips. Her nearest challenger was handicap 10 Mwongeli Nzioka who amassed 36 points in the showdown.

Florence Riungu’s determination saw her complete the women’s podium finish on 35 points while playing off handicap 24.

“We are happy with the turn out in Machakos. We chose Machakos because it is a land of small scale farmers who are our target. We were glad to interact with them as well as link up with our distributors who sell our seeds and offer crop protection solutions to the farmers,” Bayer East Africa Limited Marketing and Communication Specialist Isabellah Magale told Standard Sports.

“We have been sponsoring golf for the last 10 years where we have hosted several events annually. Last year, we used the ten events held in the season to celebrate our 50^th Anniversary,” she added.

Isaac Kamau of Vetlab Sports Club dominated the guest category which he lifted on 39 points. He was followed by Timothy Rintary who carded 37 points to clinch runners up place in the category.

Mathew Mutambu fired an impressive 41 points to bag the men’s subsidiary of the championship as the women’s category title went Purity Kioko on 40 points.

First and second nine winners were John Kinyua (21 points) and Anthony Mwirigi (22 points) in that order.

In the longest drive challenge, Terra Saidimu and Nancy Kariuki emerged victors in the men and ladies’ categories respectively; as Vincent Musalia bagged the nearest-to-the-pin award at the event.

The third leg of the series moves to the Nandi Bears club in June. The opening leg of this year’s series was held at the Nakuru Golf Club on March 8.

Six more events are scheduled to be held across the country in the course of the year to build on last year’s success that had a total of ten legs. 

Second leg of the 2025 Bayer East Africa Golf Series results

1. Overall, Winner: John Kitaka 47 stable ford points

2. Men’s Winner: Peter Marang’u 41

3. Men’s Runners Up: Joe Mboya 39

4. Men’s Third Place: Victor Mutwii 38

5. Lady Winner: Angelina Mutuku 37

6.Lady Runners Up: Mwongeli Nzioka 36

7. Lady’s Third Place: Florence Riungu 35

8. Guest Winner: Isaac Kamau 39

9. Guest Runners Up: Timothy Rintari 37

10. Men’s Subsidiary Winner: Mathew Mutambu 41

11. Ladies Subsidiary Winner: Purity Kioko 40

12. First Nine Winner: John Kinyua 21

13. Second Nine Winner: Anthony Mwirigi 22

14. Longest Drive Men: Terra Saidimu

15. Longest Drive Women: Nancy Kariuki

16 .Nearest To The Pin: Vincent Musalia