No 'Monday blues' for Chris Andrea at Thika
Ruiru Sports Club's Chris Andrea follows the progress of his shot during the Ruiru Classic Golf tournament at the par 72 Ruiru Sports Club on August 29, 2020. Andrea will be among golfers from Ruiru Sports Club and other clubs who will raise funds for Talitha Kum Hands Children’s home in Nyahururu, Laikipia County this weekend through a charity tournament.
What you need to know:
- The weekend was however a fine one for Esther Mugure, who managed to produce an impressive round of 39 points, to emerge the best.
- Also posting 39 was the lady sponsor Patricia Mbugua, while the men sponsor was Duncan Mwaniki who carded 34 points. The two nine winners were Julius Kinuthia abd Ken Chege who posted 21 ans 20 points.
After his level par score during the 2020 Ruiru Classic tournament, Ruiru Sports Club champion Chris Andrea eventually managed to post an under par score at the magnificent Thika Sports Club course where he emerged top in the 'Monday Blues' event sponsored by former Kenya number one amateur Wachira Mahihu on Monday.
The Tanzania-born Andrea says the Thika Green Golf Resort Course is currently in its best condition at the and very easy to shoot under par if one stays on the fairway.
“My tee shots were perfect, and was able to reach the greens on regulation while my putting was excellent. I believe with good support, I can play well in the national events and eventually turn professional if I manage to get a sponsor," said Andrea, adding that it has been a struggle to play club events at his home club of Ruiru without a sponsor.
“Things have been very tough without money or sponsorship, though I have been working very hard on my game to bring myself to the level I can win big events," said Andrea, who birdied the par four- eighth at the front nine, and at the par three- 17th, while the rest were pars for a bogey-free two under par 70 gross which translated into 40 stableford point to beat a field of 38 golfers, which included pros Simon Ngige and Sullivan Muthugia from Thika Sports Club.
Finishing a point behind Andrea was Thika Greens Resort’s Ndoria Ikua and leading amateur golfer in 2019, Samuel Njoroge of Kenya Railway Golf Club, who bogeyed the seventh and at the back nine’s 14th and 16th.
He however, made birdies on the 11th, 13th and 15th to also finish on 39 points. Another Thika Sports Club player, Dennis Gakuo carded 38 same with Betty Mutua also from Thika, to finish fourth. Pro Simon Ngige posted 37 points, same as Kieni Member of Parliament Kanini Kega, a member of Nyeri Golf Club.
At Nyeri Golf Club, Dr Paul Sang won the men’s title in the Monthly Mug at the weekend with an impressive score of 66 nett.
He won by four shots from George Ndegwa, who carded nett 70 as Khilan Shah was third on 71 nett.
In fourth place was G. Gakima with 72 nett, while the nines went to Fr. Paul Kimani on 31 nett and Fr. Felix Kibicho on 35 nett. In the ladies section, Rose Komu fired nett 70 to win ahead of Mercy Mburu on 77 nett.
At Kiambu Golf Club also over the weekend, John Muchai posted 38 points, to win the Mushroom/Kugeria Golf Day by one point from men winner George Kamau.
He won on countback from the handicap eight Stephen Kiaro, Patrick Wanjohi and Benjamin Kibiku. Taking the ladies title was Wanjiru Karume with a score of 35 points. She beat Catherine Mungai, and Grace Kibe by two points.
The weekend was however a fine one for Esther Mugure, who managed to produce an impressive round of 39 points, to emerge the best.
Also posting 39 was the lady sponsor Patricia Mbugua, while the men sponsor was Duncan Mwaniki who carded 34 points. The two nine winners were Julius Kinuthia abd Ken Chege who posted 21 ans 20 points.
