Larry Ngala
27 August 2008
Nairobi — Limuru Country Club's James Ngigi got off to a flying start in hunt for his first victory this season when he fired one under par at the tough playing Nyali Golf and Country Club Mombasa.
He shared the first round lead KCB Pro-Am Tour champion Dismas Indiza as the Mumias Sugar sponsored invitational pro tournament got under way.
Ngigi, one of the senior professionals in the country, eagled the fifth hole after an early birdie at the second, dropped a shot at the seventh, birdied two more holes at the back nine where he also dropped three shots for one under par 70.
This was an 11 shots improvement from his first round score during the KCB Pro-Am grand finale at the same venue two weeks ago.
Indiza on the other hand made a birdie- birdie finish at the back nine after dropping a shot at the 14th and four more at the back nine where he bogeyed four holes against three birdies.
Following the two leaders was Muthaiga's Kopan Timbe who birdied four times against a similar number of bogeys for the day's second best round of 71.
Another Limuru based pro John Kagiri and Nyali's Jimmy Kingori tied on 72, while David Wakhu, one of the two pros under the sponsorship of Blue Shield Insurance company led a group of four on two over par 73.
They included Jacob Okello who finished second to Indiza during the KCB Pro-Am, Kiambu's Peter Njiru and Wakhu's colleague at Blue Shield Simon Ngigi.
Completing the top 10 with a 74 was Charan Thethy who also doubles up as the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) boss.
The pros will be off at 9am Thursday morning for the second round of the Sh350,000 event being sponsored by Mumias Sugar Company.
They will conduct a free coaching clinic to Nyali members after Friday's third round before they embark on the fourth round on Saturday where they will be joined by over 120 amateurs.
Meanwhile one of the most popular event at Kenya Railway Golf Club, the Rosemary Perpetual Trophy will be marking its 32nd year this weekend.
Started way back in 1976 by a club member Rosemary Wamboi to mark her birthday, the event which is usual held at the last weekend of August has attracted an overwhelming entry of 300 players hence a number of players will play at Kiambu Golf Club and also at the main venue Railway on Friday.
The weekend round itself at Railway has attracted over 150 players. They included Wilson Karanja who is out for a treble after winning the 2006 and 2007 editions.
Among the earlier winners of the tournament which for a long time was sponsored by various international airlines such as Pan Am, Lufthansa, and Gulf Air, include the veteran Ben Okello now a professional.
Okello won the inaugural one in 1976 and came back later to claim the 1977 and 1978 editions. Among the sponsors in this year's event will be Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
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