Kiambu’s Ngure heads for CBA golf tourney hot on form
What you need to know:
- The bank usually sponsors over 10 tournaments across the country annually.
Fresh from his impressive victory in the Mountain Classic two weeks John Ngure will be the player to watch again this weekend as Kiambu hosts the CBA (Commercial Bank of Africa) tournament.
During the Mountain Classic, Ngure, one of the lead golfers at Kiambu Golf Club, playing off handicap four, fired two over par 38 points a round, which included three birdies and five bogeys, to beat Martin Njeru Nyaga by four points.
Nyaga and others like David Ndirangu, Mbugua Njenga, David Kimani, and veteran Joseph Ndegwa were among a field of 150 golfers who had listed their names for the CBA tourney by yesterday before the draw was done.
This is the first time CBA is returning to the nine-hole Kiambu course since 2015. Club chairman Njeru Njagi said yesterday that Kiambu golfers were more than set for the weekend’s event: “We have been looking forward for this sponsorship for the past few months. The last time CBA were in Kiambu, it was one of the best events ever and this is why members are very excited.’’
EXCELLENT CONDITION
He said the course was in excellent condition and that players were likely to post impressive scores this time round.
CBA, whose main objective of the golf sponsorship is to reward customers and create positive visibility of the brand, have lined up a number of prizes for club members, guests and staff.
The bank usually sponsors over 10 tournaments across the country annually. This year they have increased the number of tournaments by three (Sigona, Royal and Kiambu).
Their last event this year was at the lake-side Nyanza Golf Club course Kisumu. Last year, the Corporate Banking Department organised a very successful charity golf at Sigona to raise funds to support Huruma Children Home.
CBA Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Ngunze will lead a strong team of senior executives including James Mugo, Chirs Pasha, William Muguima, Peter Kiguru, Robert Muigai, Tony Karani, Edwin Obuya and Charles Omondi.
Njagi said that though he expected a huge field, there would be marshals all over the course to make sure that the event ran smoothly and every player finished on time.
During the Mountain Classic, the CSS (Competition Scratch Score) was 74 (34 points) for members and 76 (32 points) for the visiting players.
Conditions are likely to be better this weekend.
In another development, former senior executive with the Nation Media Group Richard Wanjalla is set to take over the leadership of the Kenya Golf Union(KGU) tomorrow after serving the union as vice chairman for one year.
The handicap 13 Wanjalla, a member of Muthaiga Golf Club, served as the KGU treasurer for four years before being elected as vice chairman. Wanjalla, will be taking over the mantle from Vet Lab Sports Club’s Muchau Githiaka who as it is the tradition, will remain in the council for another year.
Since no other names were received until the deadline, Wanjalla and the rest of the top four executives are going to be unopposed during Friday’s KGU election which tops the agenda in the 2017 annual general meeting to be held at Muthaiga Golf Club.
The others are the out going secretary Lucas Marang’a from Limuru Country who will be Wanjalla’s vice, while former Royal Nairobi chairman Ben Omuodo is coming in as the new secretary. Karen Country Club’s Anthony Murage remains as the KGU treasurer.
The only seats which will be contested are those of the six executive committee members which have in addition to the current members, have attracted Golf Talent Foundation (GTF) chairman Njani Nderitu of Vet Lab and former Muthaiga chairman Henry Njoroge.
The two will be battling it out with Mike Macharia (Windsor), Robert Kairo (Kiambu), Ndiga Kithae (Thika), Peter Kiguru (Sigona), and Vincent Wang’ombe (Limuru).
