Lejirmah edges Sandhu to claim Uhuru Shield

Kenya Amateur Match Play Champion John Lejirmah beat home play Jay Sandhu by two shots to claim the 54-hole Uhuru Shield golf tournament at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club at the weekend.

Lejirmah, from Kenya Railway Golf Club, shot level par 72 in the opening round before posting two over par 74 in each of the last two rounds for a total of 220.

Sandhu carded one under par 71, though a 78 in the last round saw him finish on 222, just a shot better than Michael Karanga, who posted 223. Nelson Koech and Ebill Omollo tied for third place on 226.

The Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series which replaced the “Golfer of The Year’’, comes to an end with the Nyali Open at the Nyali Golf and Country Club Mombasa this weekend.

At Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club, the team of John Kashangaki, Charles Kiprono, Sanjay Archya and Mayak Amin carded a combined score of 107 points to be crowned the overall winners of the third leg of the Johnnie Walker Golf Series held on Saturday.

They won by 10 points from the team of Karim Charania, Ronan Smith, Stergios and Maria Zeller, who managed a combined score of 97 points count-back, fending off the challenge of Annel Rajay, Naveel Sheikh, Frank C, and Lizzele, who combined for a score of 97 points to seal the second runners-up position.

Meanwhile, John Kashangaki carded 39 points to emerge the winner in the men’s category, beating fellow team player Charles Kiprono, who also posted 36 points to claim the second position.

“I am delighted to have emerged the winner in the men’s category as well as emerging the overall winner together with my teammates.

It was a good day and I hope that the next round will be even better. The series has given us a great opportunity to better our skills and competitiveness and we are grateful to Johnnie Walker for this opportunity,” said Kashangaki.

In the ladies category, Maria Torraddo, posted 36 points to claim the top honours ahead of Maria Aloo, who scored 32 points to emerge second.

Claiming top positions in the Nines were Kamau Nyabwengi, who scored 24 points in the first nine, while Avnish Bhandari scored 20 points in the second nine to emerge the star.  

In the Longest Drive contest, Riz Charania and Chrissie Adams emerged respective winners in the men’s and ladies categories. 

The event attracted a field of 150 players, who braved the chilly weather conditions to battle it out for the qualifying positions.

The top three teams now join the list of teams to play in the next round of the Series – Eagles Round, as they aim to make the cut to play in the Series’ Grand Finale, where a fully paid-up trip to the iconic Gleneagles Golf Course in Scotland will be up for grabs. 

At Thika Sports Club, Julia Maina, playing off handicap 30, carded 38 points made up of 20 and 18 to emerge the overall winner of the Captain’s Prize hosted by Wanjau Gathuri.

S.N. Kinyanjui was the men winner with a score of 37 points, winning by a point from second placed Steven Kiano. In the ladies section, Eunice Muthemba brought home 33 points to win by one point from Margaret Waweru.

The sponsors were led by Kim Nderitu on 33 after beating Martin Murimi on countback.

Leading the Level handicap group was Charles Wachira on 34 points, while emerging the best guest was P. Gatere on 33 points and the nines went to the outgoing captain Wanjau Gathuri on 20 and J.K. Muoria who posted 19 points.

At Sigona, handicap 10 golfer, Hitul Lakhani, carded six bogeys, two birdies and 10 pars to shoot 76 gross to win the overall prize at the I&M Bank corporate golf day on 42 stableford points.  

Lakhani was four shots better than the Men winner Paresh Shah. Shah, playing off handicap 27, was on his own with 38 points, followed closely by Ashut Shah (18) on 37 points.

The third and fourth prizes for men was decided on countback.  Five players shot 36 points – Savan Shah, Sunny Syan, P Kinyanjui, Hanif Tayebjee, James Mbuthia  – with the latter two, Hanif Tayebjee and James Mbuthia taking third and fourth respectively.

The lady winner was Priscilla Karobia, who shot 32 points, one shot better than Aruna Shah and Lydia Mokaya scoring 31.

Hanif Tayebjee also won the men’s Longest Drive on hole 13 with Karen’s Rose Mambo taking the lady prize.

Nearest the Pin lady winner was Cathy Kimathi, with Royal Nairobi’s Ramesh Chudasama taking the men’s prize. 

The following are summarised results of the weekend golf round-up;

At Nanyuki- Nanyuki Mall Golf Day; Overall Winner Kelvin Kabugi 39 points, Men winner Cyprisn Bundi 35, Mark Kirimi 35. Anthony Rukwaro 35. Category B winner- Cragy Butler 36 cb James Warui 36. Lady winner- Hellen Kurutu 32, winer C division- Faith Wangai 40 points.

At Machakos; KenGen Golf Day; Winner Jackson Mbaluka 40, John Mwanthi 38, cb Stephen Okundi 38, Victor Mutwii 36, guest winner- Emmanuel Lelgo 47 pts, sponsor winner- Reuben Langat 32, Roy Bwoma 26, Lady winner- (B) Esther Katheu 41, Nancy Kariuki 38, Nines:S.M. Musyoka 18, Jerry Okal 21 points.

At Ruiru Sports Clunb- Ladies Open men subsidiary Chris Andrea gross- 31, Men winner David Kabera 38, David Gitonga  36, Jimm Kamau 35, Guest winner-Elvis Nduati 31, Nearest to pin Elias Kariuki, Longest drive Isaac Nguku.