FINALE WINNER: Royal's Jay Sandhu is presented with the winners prize by Safaricom chairman Nicholas Ng'ang'a after he won the Safaricom Business Challenge Golf Grand Finale at the Vipingo Ridge at the weekend.

By DISMAS ONYANGO

Jay S. Sandhu of Royal Nairobi Golf Club is the winner of the 2011/2012 Safaricom Business Golf Challenge winner.
Playing off scratch handicap on Saturday, Sandhu  carded 33 points after hitting 15 on the first nine and 18 on the back nine.
On his way up, Sandhu parred six times on the front nine and five times on the second nine where he also picked two burdies on the par 5 hole 15 and par 4 hole 18.
And it was a rare double for Sandhu who also chalked up men’s longest drive trophy with a distance of 275 meters.
In winning the prestigious overall trophy, Sandhu who recently led his Royal Nairobi outfit to second place in the 2012 Tannahill Shield tournament, took home an iPad 2 to boot.
Sandhu, a former Kenya stroke play champion and zone six international was all smiles as he was rewarded for the rare double.
The par 72 Vipingo Ridge which is a championship course located in the North Coast gave the amateurs a real test of some challenging golf what with some bumpy fairways and intense windy conditions.
“It was a difficult course but a really nice experience. You really needed concentration all the time. My worst score was in number 6 where  I went in the bush twice and scratched,” said Sandhu.
Sandhu continued: “We really appreciate what Safaricom has done. I wish to thank the course supervisor for a job well done. Its my first time playing here and to win this trophy is a wonderful experience. Its one of the best courses in the world.”
A field of 124 amateur golfers took part in the event. Some 36 qualifiers played with the rest of the guests.
Gracing the occasion was Nicholas Nganga, the Safaricom Chairman. In his keynote speech, Nganga said; “We’ll still continue to reward Kenyans for a service they have contributed for over the years and made us the biggest enterprise in the region. We ask you to continue the support and embrace the new concepts we are bringing to the market.”
The countrywide series which kicked off last year in August at the par 73 Windsor Golf and country club has attracted over 4000 golfers during all the eighteen qualifying rounds with the  top two in each round making it for the grand finale.
Launched eight months down the line, the series was meant to create a good networking and contact sessions between the business and and all core Safaricom Customers all over the country. joyas de pandora joyas de pandora

WINNER'S SMILE: Golf writer James Waindi (left) receives the longest drive prize from NIC Bank's Director of Retail Banking James Wainaina during the launch of the NIC Golf Series at the Railways Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.

By DISMAS ONYANGO
The second edition of the NIC Bank Golf Series has gone regional with this year’s events expected to visit local clubs and clubs in Uganda and Tanzania.
This was announced on Thursday by the bank’s Director of Retail Banking James Wainaina during the launch of the series at the nine-hole Railway Golf Club where they also sponsored a club night.
At the launch, Wainaina said NIC was committed to supporting sports across East Africa.
“NIC Bank now operates across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and consequently we have designed this golf series to mirror our current market,” Wainaina said.
He added: “So in addition to the events lined up in Kenya, the NIC Bank Golf Series will also stop-over in Kampala and Dar es Saalam.”
The host clubs in Kenya will include the Nyanza Club in Kisumu City, which will bring together players from Kakamega, Kericho, Kisii and Mumias. From Nyanza, action will move to Nakuru Golf Club where golfers from Nanyuki and Njoro will be brought together, then Thika Sports Club will host golfers from Ruiru, Makuyu, Nyeri and Nanyuki in the third event, before Mombasa Golf Club host members of the Coastal golf clubs.
Eldoret Golf Club will play host to Nandi Bears and Kitale Club, then the challenging Sigona Golf Club, Kiambu Golf Club and the Kenya Railway Golf Club host the remaining legs in the country.
“In the past we have supported initiatives from the Kenya Golf Union and we have also supported some Professional Golfers,” Wainaina said.
“This support is under consideration and we will continue in our efforts to support golf as a sport across the region.”
In the last NIC Bank Golf Series season, the Bank hosted over 2,000 golfers from around the country in exciting golf days that also included some of their partners, especially motor vehicle dealers.
“This year we will be bringing more partners on board to give the golfing fraternity a truly meaningful experience,” Wainaina added.
“NIC Bank is a one stop shop, we are determined to replicate our business model in golf, to give our clients and partners a quality experience at each of our golf days.”
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