By Mose Sammy:
205
Monday, May 13th 2019 at 00:00 GMT +3 | SportsHandicap 18 Charles Kikuvi, playing to his home course advantage, emerged victorious of the State Bank of Mauritius golf day at the par 72 Machakos Sports Club over the weekend.
Kikuvi sank pars on the outward nine, on the par-five first, par-four fifth, par-three seventh, par-five 10th, par-four 11th, par-four 12th, par-three 17th and the par-five 18th holes.
He then Bogeyed at the par-three second, par-four fourth, par-four sixth, par-three eighth, par four 14th, par-four 15th and 16th holes.
Kikuvi only double-bogeyed the par-five ninth and registered one no-return on the par-four 13th hole to garner 20 stableford points from the outward nine and an additional 21 stableford points from the inward nine.
He enjoyed a compact round total of 41 stableford points to prevail over a field of 84 golfers, who participated in the day-long tournament.
Kikuvi attributed his good outing on the course to the conducive weather coupled with a solid game off the deck.
“Having been off the course for a couple of months, I felt a bit rusty at the onset. And playing alongside one of the club’s young golfers, Collins Wambua, I had to bring out the best of my 28 years’ experience to keep up with the pressure. I decided to keep my head down and concentrate more on my swing basics,” said Kikuvi.
“I was hitting the fairways like 90 percent of my round. At some point I had a few challenges with my iron-shots though my short-game made up for 40 percent of my good showing today.”
Finishing second was Member winner Daniel Salaton, playing off handicap 19, who carded 39 stableford points to deny Member winner second Julius Kioko.
Kioko, playing off handicap 15 lost on countback but enjoyed a similar score of 39 stableford points.
Machakos Sports Club chairman Sawarn Singh, playing off handicap 15, was Member winner third on a score of 37 stableford points.
Donning the Lady’s gong was a handicap 17 Nancy Kariuki, who posted 38 stableford points, edging out handicap 19 Susan Ndolo, who had 35 stableford points.
In the Guest category, Muthaiga Golf Club’s Alex Mbuthia, playing off handicap 28, carded 41 stableford points to claim the prize.
Scratch golfer William Odera posted 33 stableford points to claim Guest winner second prize, while handicap 28 Patrick Makenzi was the Guest winner third with 33 stableford points.
“SBM seeks to partner with county governments in various counties and Machakos County is one such area of interest to us,” said SBM Bank Deputy Chief executive officer, Jotham Mutoka.
“Being a bank with excellent solutions for SME’s, our golf sponsorship today is an opportunity for us to meet and interact with business leaders as we seek partnerships that will help in growing up counties,” he added
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua’s message was read on his behalf by the county’s Trade, Industry and Innovation Executive Committee member, Francis Mwaka.
“We are happy to provide an enabling environment through favorable, sound and friendly policies for investors that will assist in value addition to the lives of the people of Machakos through such events,” said Mutua.
At the same event, the club’s management led by chairman Sawarn Sing and Captain Musembi Katuku received a tractor worth Sh1.4 million.
