Okundi crowned 12th NCBA Golf Series winner at Machakos Golf Club

Home player Stephen Okundi was on Saturday crowned the 12th winner of the ongoing 2021 NCBA Golf Series after he topped the leaderboard of Machakos Golf Club’s leg of the series.

The handicap 28 golfer carded an impressive round of 46 points to claim the spot, two points ahead of his nearest challenger, handicap 21 Josephat Mboya, who ended the round with 44 points to claim the men’s winner spot. Mboya’s efforts were enough to keep veteran golfer General Musomba at bay and in the runner-up spot in the category with 41 points.

In the ladies’ category, handicap 35 Rehema Okal, was the crowned winner after she carded a round of 40 points – nine ahead of handicap 17 Jennifer Mangu, who was the runner-up with 31 points.

In the juniors’ category, Jayden Okal was crowned winner in the 10-years-and-over-category with 55 points, while Myles Mwendwa was winner in the 10-years-and-under-category. Among the guests, handicap 30 Florence Riungu was crowned the winner with 46 points ahead of handicap 12, David Wahome, who carded a round of 37 points to take the runner-up spot in the category.

Among the staff players, NCBA’s Rahab Thuo – at handicap 34 – emerged as the winner with 45 points.

In the nines, Anthony Kariuki and Peter Kimatu were crowned winners in the first and second nine contests with 21 points apiece. In subsidiary events, Mwongeli Nzioka was the longest drive winner among the ladies, while Francis Muthiani was the winner in the men’s contest. Nicholas Musau was the nearest-to-the-pin winner; with the best effort award going to Richard Muli with 15 points.

The Machakos Golf Club event was the 13th on the 2021 NCBA Golf Series calendar and took place on the back of a successful two-day junior golf tournament earlier in the week. A total of 95 players took to the par-72 Machakos Golf Club, with the top five finishers booking a place in the Series grand finale that will be played in December at the Karen Country Club.

As part of the event, NCBA Group held a tree-planting exercise, as part of its Change The Story Initiative, at the new range which is being developed at the Machakos Golf Club. The initiative, which was started in 2017, seeks to encourage tree-planting activities across the country with the aim of helping enhance Kenya’s forest cover by next year.

“We had a great day of golf here at the Machakos Golf Club for the thirteenth leg of the NCBA Golf Series,” NCBA Group Eastern Regional Branch Manager, Jennifer Kamoni said.

“The golfers enjoyed themselves, and I am pleased that the top five finishers from this leg will be playing at the Series finale in December this year. The Series gives us an opportunity to engage existing and potential clients, and helps us nurture lasting relationships with them, while helping the growth and development of golf in the country.”

The series now moves to the scenic par-72 Limuru Country Club for the fourteenth event on the calendar.

 PHOTO/COURTESY