Njoroge swings to victory at VetLab Club

Home player Lee Njoroge scored a gross score of 73, 71, 72 (295) to secure his fourth VetLab Golf Club Championship 2025 trophy on Saturday.

Njoroge, who was playing off handicap 1, used his vast experience to beat a strong field of elite golfers.

The Club Championship is among the prestigious tournaments at the club, running for over 50 years. Others include The Tilley Rose Bowl, named after the club's founder, Eric Tilley, and The Fred and Phillipa Kerr Memorial Trophy, in memory of Captain Kerr and his spouse, who contributed a lot to the club as captain.

Some of the notable winners of the Club Championship Trophy were the late Peter Ngugi and Sylvester Kuria, the oldest living member of the club, having joined in 1965 with Ngugi when Africans were allowed to become members.

Ngugi, who first joined the club as a caddie in 1952, won the trophy at three clubs: VetLab Sports Club, Muthaiga Golf Club and Limuru Golf and Country Club, where he was a member. 

Njoroge, who had taken a 10-year break from golf and only bounced back recently, had to contend with the youngsters he was up against, with his experience coming in handy to deliver the win. He was up against the overall second winner, Ebill Omollo (h/c 1), and the overall third winner, Krish Shah and Steve Orinda.

"My long game wasn't up to par, but my short game kept me in the mix. I had tough competitors who gave me a good run, although I managed to pull it off with my short game. It was fun and I'm looking forward to defending it next year," Njoroge said.

In the Nett category, also known as the Would-Be-Champion, handicap 19, Raj Shah carded rounds of 74, 76, 72, 68 (290) to win.

At Muthaiga Golf Club, Maurice K'anjejo celebrated his 25th golfing year in style by winning the Crown Golf tournament overall title.

K'anjejo, playing off handicap 12, was elated to have won the title with an authoritative score of 42 stableford points.

"In my decorated silver jubilee as a golfer, the only title I have not secured is the Crown Paints title, but finally, I have won it at home, and I feel so happy," he said.

Eric Rugo won the Men's winner prize with a score of 39 stable ford points, and Kenneth Kaniu was second, also with 39 stable ford points. Habil Olaka was third with 38 stableford points.

Handicap 23, Nelius Kariuki was declared the lady winner, with 42 stableford points, while Sajni Shah was second with 41 stableford points.

Former Nyahuru Sports Club Chairman, Keru Wambui, won the Guest Prize with 42 stable ford points, with the guest winner second prize going to Nirmla Devi with a score of 39 stable ford points.

Junior golfer, Kayla Kagigite, struck a double as she won both the junior prize with 37 stableford points and the longest drive lady winner prize. Quram Bhatti won the longest drive men prize.

At the nine-hole Golf Park, Faith Kanana scored 65 nett to claim the Ladies Medal title during the meet hosted by lady captain Neddie Akello.

Bianca Wanjiru won the overall gross prize with 94 gross points. In Division B, handicap 19, Lucy Kisia won with 84 nett. Division B was won by Kate Murima with 68 nett, as junior Anne Marie Ocholla bagged the Division C title with 68 nett.

Geoffrey Kiprop was the men's winner after registering 65 nett, followed by Raymond Bett, who managed a similar score to claim the men's second winner prize.

Caroline Ndungu and Lilian Machanga were the first and second nine winners with scores of 30 nett apiece.