Lejirma spoils the party for Karanga in Nakuru meet

John Lejirma's name was etched as the winner of the 98th edition of the Coronation Trophy at the picturesque Nakuru Golf Club layout Sunday.

The Royal Nairobi Golf Club's top amateur had a superb outing, chalking a 5-under-69, 72, 73 (214) to win the tournament and deny the defending champion, Michael Karanga, who was aiming for a hat trick but settled for third place.  

Karanga, the 2023 and 2024 champion, shot 2-under-74, 75, 68 (217) behind the best-placed lady, Joyce Njuguini, who had an amazing run posting 3-under-76, 71, 69 (216) after deposing Naomi Wafula, the day one and two second placed player who collapsed on the third day for lack of proper feel on her putter stroke which saw her miss given putts on the homestretch which proved so costly to her title run. She dropped four shots to wind up at 2-over on the final day.

She played in pressure groups in her three rounds, starting on day one and the moving day alongside Edgar Brian and Michael Karanga before taking on John Lejirma and Geoffrey Karioki in the final round.

The Coronation Trophy played alongside The Bendor Trophy, the signature event at the Nakuru Golf Club, were both founded in 1932 to celebrate the coronation of George VI and his wife, Elizabeth I, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom.

The other event that started then was the Coronation Rally, which was later renamed the East African Safari Rally.

This year's event was billed as the biggest and best organised in the championship's history by both the participants and officials from the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) sponsored by Liberty Cancer and Wellness Center, Wachira Wekhomba Aim and Associated Advocates, ICEA Lion Group, Mukite Musangi and Associates and Stima Sacco among others.

Attributed to the financial incentive courtesy of the organisers and better event promotion with more sponsors, players involved, and heightened participation and enthusiasm and the club's management making clear efforts to keep the course ready for high-level competition.

"The quality of play has improved, as evidenced by the scores and player involvement," noted SK Mwaura, the Chief Referee, "The club and players are well-prepared, and the course is in excellent condition: lush and well-maintained, which can be considered for future championship events."

Lejirma made good his promise to wrestle the title from Karanga who has been his nemesis for the past three years.

Entering the Nakuru event with the explicit goal of outperforming Karanga.

"I'm over the moon for spoiling the party for Karanga who has been a thorn in my pursuit for greatness, I maintained a strong lead for the three days thanks to my consistency and focused mindset," he said in his acceptance speech.

After a few missteps where he dropped shots, he regrouped with his caddy and stabilized his performance on his way to claim the victory.

Shifting his focus to the next immediate events, the Sunshine Tour to be played at Thika Greens Golf Resort and the KAGC Ruiru Open, he finished second best at the launch in Great Rift Valley Lodge in April and is motivated to secure the pole position if his current good form is anything to go by.  

The prize-giving gala provided the newly elected Kenya Golf Union KGU Chairman, Chris Kinuthia, with his first audience who promised to unify, grow and serve the golfing fraternity.

"I will deepen our partnerships with the Junior Golf Foundation JGF, and the Kenya Ladies Golf Union KLGU, by forging a cohesive, joint development framework that will nurture talents from the grassroots to elite levels, across all genders and ages," said Kinuthia.

He also granted Captain Michael Mululu's request for NGC to host the Kenya Amateur Matchplay Championship in 2026.

In other notable results, handicap 23, Simon Kuria, returned a nett score of 70, 69 (139) to win the 70th Bendor Trophy.

Veteran, Dr S Malik was in his element as he carded 70, 74 (144) nett to emerge as the Bendor Trophy runners-up playing off handicap 8.

Teresia Ndegwa posted an 80, 79 (159) nett to be declared the Bendor Trophy Lady winner followed by Alice Kirubi who managed an 83, 81 (164) nett.

Njoro Country Club's James Munyua was the Day-One winner with 72 nett with Willy Maina of Naivasha Sports Club taking the Day-Two prize on a score of 73 nett.

The Sponsor prize was won by Douglas Kanuri with 72, 74 (146).

Ashok Patel and Manveer Singh were the Senior and Junior winners with 85, 86 (171) and 82, 81 (163) nett scores respectively.