Nation Classic third leg at Nakuru Golf Club
Action in this year’s Nation Classic, Kenya’s long-running golf series, moved to Nakuru County in the Central Rift region, for the third leg of the Nation Media Group sponsored event at the par 73 Nakuru Golf Club course.
Coming a month after the second leg of the Nation Classif Golf Series at the century old Mombasa Golf Club, tournament attracted over 200 players including guests drawn from various clubs in the country as well as Nation Media Group staff led by Group Chairman, Dr. Wilfred Kiboro.
Like the Mombasa event, the Nation Media Group partnered with a number of organizations, led by the Nakuru County Government. Other sponsors that contributed towards the success of the tournament, are Bata Shoe Company, Hyssops Properties, Giant Group of Nairobi Twiga, Mahiga Homes, ICEA Lion, Premier Foods Industry, Mabati Bora Factory and Shree Vanik Vaishanav Mahajan.
The Nation Media Group, besides the golf tournament, supported Nakuru Workers Primary School with text books as part of NMG’s CSR activities where multiple schools and needy children’s homes have over the past two decades benefited from this programme.
Nakuru golfer Joseph Kioko claimed the overall title in the third leg of the 2021 Nation Golf Classic. Playing off handicap 16, Kioko, who started playing golf in 2018, rolled in a number of pars and two birdies for a magnificent 46 stableford points under chilly conditions because of the early morning rain.
“I had an easy day thanks to the current great condition of the Nakuru course, though two birdies really spiced up my day. I am so excited winning the Nation Classic,” said Kioko after receiving his trophy and a golf bag from Nation Media Group presented by Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, who was the chief guest during the prize giving ceremony.
He won by three points from the club’s Vice Captain, Mathew Maiyo, who posted 43 points to take home the men’s first prize. Playing off handicap seven, Maiyo, bogeyed the par four, but parred the rest in the outgoing nine for one over par 21 points. He then bogeyed the 10th hole, but birdied both the 15th and 16th for one under par 22 points.
Finishing second in the men’s section was Indaveer Singh with a score of 37 points, while junior Pari Maisuria emerged the lady winner with an impressive 42 points. Leading the more than 53 guests was Irene Kamutu, who posted 46 points to win by two points from Eliud Siganga of Kakamega Golf Club, who had posted 44 points.
Emerging the best staff with a score of 32 points was George Kihuria, the Nation Media Group’s (NMG) Circulation and Distribution Manager, who won ahead of NMG chairman Dr Wilfred Kiboro. There was a stiff competition among the juniors where Gurtej Sahota, with an excellent score of 41 points, beat the rest of the juniors to clinch the title.
Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, NMG Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gitagama said the company will continue supporting the Nation Classic and other golf activities in the country. He said the golf series gives NMG an opportunity to meet its clients in all the regions the events have been held.