Africa-Press – Kenya. Handicap 23 golfer, Irene Kimeu from the Kenya Railways, carded a round of 41 points during her club’s leg of the 2021 NCBA Golf Series to win the overall title on Saturday.
Kimeu becomes the first lady overall winner in the series, joining 17 other winners in the tournament who include two junior golfers.
Her excellent effort was two points better than her nearest challenger, Joe Ngacha – at handicap 13 – who carded a round of 39 points to emerge the winner in the men’s category. Joe Gogo claimed the men’s runner-up spot.
Among the ladies, handicap 21, Eunice Kilonzo, emerged the winner with 39 points ahead of Doris Night, at handicap 23, who recorded a similar haul of points to emerge runner-up in the category.
Among the juniors, handicap eight, Paash Padam, was crowned the winner with 34 points. NCBA’s Group director for retail banking, Tirus Mwithiga – at handicap 19, was crowned staff winner with 33 points.
Paul Orawo and Joseph Kagicha were respective winners in the first and the second nine with 23 and 19 points respectively.
In the longest drive contest, Fidelis Kimanzi and Olive Njagi took the honours in the men and women’s categories respectively, while Jeff Kageche emerged winner in the nearest-to-the-pin contest.
The Kenya Railways Golf Club leg was the 18th event in the 2021 NCBA Golf Series calendar – which has so far featured 17 seniors’ events and one junior golf tournament.
The leg brought together 160 members drawn from Railways and Golf Park.
The top three golfers from Railways – Irene Kimeu, Eunice Kilonzo, and Joe Ngacha – and the top two golfers from Golf Park – Minnie Mbue and Hillary Kipkosgey – qualified to play at the NCBA Golf Series finale which will be held at the Karen Country Club in December.
This now brings to 85 the number of golfers who have qualified to play in the finale event, being the top five finishers from the 17 seniors’ events that have been held so far.
Focus now shifts to the Royal Nairobi Golf Club for the 19th leg in the series to be played on October 30.
