Nyali meet: Lady golfer Hilda Mugure claims top spot in season opener

Hilda Mugure, a lady golfer from the home club, emerged victorious in the season-opening ladies' tournament held at the par-71 Nyali Golf and Country Club in Mombasa on Saturday.

Playing off handicap 19, Mugure displayed remarkable skill throughout the day-long tournament, accumulating a sterling 18 differential points to be declared the overall winner. Her triumph was sealed after playing 35 nett in the front nine and 17 points at the back nine.

"I am overjoyed to have won this prestigious ladies' tournament and to be the overall victor today. This serves as an indication that the upcoming season will be quite different for me," Mugure said after her victory.

The club's former lady captain and senior veteran lady golfer, Florence Karimi, playing off handicap 20, emerged as the winner of the Best Lady Captain prize with a score of 19 differential points. Karimi played 36 nett and 17 points in both nines to secure the victory.

Mary Kandu, one of the club's directors and playing off handicap 9, was the gross winner with 85 gross.

The competition for the lady runner-up slot was incredibly close, with three players recording the same score. However, Daxaben Vekaria, playing off handicap 36, ultimately claimed the prize on a two-way countback score of 19 differential points from 37 nett and 18 points in both nines.

She tied with third-placed Florence Karimi (handicap 20), who had earlier won another prize, while Diana Nthiwa (handicap 32) finished fourth.

Mombasa Golf Club's Constance Achila, playing off handicap 34, emerged as the lady guest winner with 23 differential points. Her club mate, Wanjiku Wanjiri, playing off handicap 21, recorded 25 differential points to claim the runner-up slot.

Nikki Pattni, a school girl playing off handicap 50 from the home club, was the Best Lady Junior with 20 differential points after playing 37 nett and 17 points in the first and second nines, respectively.

Finally, Royal Nairobi's Natasha Mukundi, playing off handicap 43, emerged as the high handicapper winner with 15 differential points on 35 nett and 20 points from both nines.

The tournament also saw men golfers play as subsidiary and all teeing off from the ladies' tee boxes. Among them, South African-based Kenyan golfer Andrew Wahome, playing off minus 2 handicap, emerged as the best gross winner by carding a one-under-par 70 gross.

Major General (retired) Anthony Rob, playing off handicap 19, was the subsidiary winner after recording a countback of 71 points, tying on the same score with second-placed Sanjay Kotecha (handicap 11). Niran Hirani (handicap 10) came in third with 40 points.

The senior winner was Murtaza Saeed (handicap 22) with 37 points, while Erskine Nyongesa (handicap 19) and Brijesh Pattni (handicap 31) were the junior and high handicapper winners with 40 and 35 points, respectively.

The event was graced by the presence of Club Captain Dinesh Sasan and Chairman Kamami Njoroge, among others, who commended the large turnout of players and supporters, which contributed to the day's success.

Club Secretary Zaituni Mohamed represented Lady Captain Provia Odhiambo, who was said to be out of the country on official duties.

In a speech read by Mohamed, Ochiambo, who was following the day's event through social media, noted the celebration of the success of the incredible event and expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Ladies of Nyali Golf for their unwavering support throughout her transition into lady captainship.

"Your encouragement and belief in me have been my greatest source of strength. To the Ladies Committee, I cannot thank you enough. You have been a pillar of support, offering guidance and wisdom that has made this journey not only manageable but truly fulfilling. To the senior ladies of Nyali Golf, as I reflect on this journey, I am humbled to know that I have stood on the shoulders of giants of women who have paved the way and inspired excellence in leadership," Odhiambo said.

She went on to praise the planning committee, comprising Mary Kandu, Zaituni Mohammed, and Hilda Mugure, for making the event possible within a short notice and putting in extra hours to ensure its success.

Ochiambo expressed optimism about the future of the club's ladies' section, saying that together, they have built a team that is resilient and ready to face even the strongest winds that may come their way