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Ladies dominate the final leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour at Royal Nairobi Golf Club

It was a Ladies’ affair at the final leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour as they produced a stunning performance over their male counterparts to dominate the tournament at a very colourful and thrilling event held at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Course.

Elizabeth Njau, playing off handicap 25, overcame a strong field of 305 players to claim the 14th and the last leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour. The Lady golfer maximized every opportunity from her course to card 20 points in the front nine before returning 22 points in the back nine to produce an impressive total of 42 points, beating her closest challengers Wanjiku Maingi and Rebeccah Gikuru on countback.

“I am delighted to have beaten 305 players to win the 14th series of the Safaricom golf tour. The course wasn’t easy, it was challenging, but I stayed focused, just playing my normal game and having a good time with my 4 ball. I am equally happy the victory has allowed me to represent my home club in the finals. Though it has come soon, I will take up the task and start practicing immediately and also getting some tips from my club pros as a preparation for the finals scheduled for next week,” said Elizabeth Njau

Mrs. Njau becomes the third lady golfer to win the overall title of Safaricom Golf Tour after Lydia Jebichii, and Alice Awiti won Nyanza and Eldoret legs, respectively. She joins other winners from the past thirteen tournaments to battle it out in the grand finale to be held next week on Saturday 6th, at Vipingo Ridge, Kilifi County.

Wanjiku Maingi claimed the lady’s category title as Rebecca settled for the runners up position.

Other top prizes that were also won by the lady golfers include: the Guest Category award that was clinched by Ida Njogu of Limiru, the Best Nines won by the Junior Golf Foundation Honorary Secretary Rachael Chebuki and Schola Onsogo after all posted equal points of 23 with the longest drive ladies category award going to Bernice Nginja of Safaricom.

The corporate tournament also ran alongside the golf outreach dubbed “Golf Mtaani”, held at Toi Primary School in Kibra, with over 50 young people getting an opportunity to learn basic golf skills from Safaricom’s golf professional trainers.

In the Sunday juniors’ final tournament, home junior golfer Mwathi Gicheru and Windsor’s junior Kanana Muthomi were named the winners of the final leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour junior tournament held at the same facility.

With only three years in golf, the eleven-year-old Gacheru carded 77 points to emerge the best boy of the tournament. Ten-year-old Kanana Muthomi continued with her stellar performance to produce the overall title for the third time after posting 40 points.

“I have been excited to have played in this year’s Safaricom Golf Tour. It means a lot to me to win this amazing trophy at my home course on the last leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour. I enjoyed it, and I am thankful to Safaricom, as there are not a lot of tournaments where one can get such amazing trophy awards. I struggled a little bit with my first nine, where I was a bit scared as I wasn’t ready, but later I managed to better my scores in the second nine,” said Gacheru.

The final junior tournament of the season, witnessed 170 juniors participate in the event, the highest turnout so far, with 74 juniors showing up for the golf clinic, which was part of the day’s activities.

The Safaricom Golf Tour heads to Vipingo Ridge, Kilifi County, next week on Saturday 6th for the Grand finale, which will see all the overall winners, Men & Ladies Categories, and Staff winners in all the 14 tournaments held across the country battle it out.