ALL SMILES: Jane Njau admires the Dasani Trophy after scoring the best score at the Grand Finale to anchor her team to victory at the Karen Country Club on Saturday.

By JAMES WAINDI ( Chief Editor)

There is an old adage that marriages are always made in heaven and true to the words a Royal couple complimented each other to guarantee their team victory at the third edition of the Dasani Golf Gala’s Grand Finale held at the par 72 Karen Golf and Country Club on Saturday.

Jane Njau anchored her team to victory after scoring a remarkable 46 points to earn her team the prestigious winning gift of a fully paid golfing trip to Dubai. She literally complemented her husband Peter Kangethe who was the team’s weakest link on 33 points, while Gabriel Njiri contributed 34 points and Ken Kaunda amassed 33 points. They had a combined score of 113 points.

It was a fairy tale for the winners who were ironically third during the Royal qualifier two months ago and just made it to the Finale after being given special preference.

“We were driven by the fact that we were somehow considered as outsiders. We decided that we wanted to prove that we were not poor despite having finished third at the Royal qualifier. Golf is a mental game and I was in a great mental form given the fact that I was in the same group with my husband, it really calmed my nerves,” said Njau.

She added: “This is my best score in my golfing career and I can attribute a bit of it to luck. I started on the back nine in the afternoon when the other member of my team had already completed their round and the smiles on their faces were not pleasing, making me know that I had the responsibility to lift them up.

Everything just fell in place; I sunk a birdie on the par five dog leg right hole two then had a scratch on the 15^th hole, which is normally a tormenting hole for me on normal days.”

The winning four players, earned a chance to travel to Dubai to attend the Grand Finale of the European Tour, the DP World Tour Championships at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.

While in Dubai, the players will also have the opportunity to see Europe’s top 60 money earners on the 2012 Order of Merit battle it out for a 1.3 million winner’s cheque. In addition, they will play at some of the best golf courses in the region, including the Dubai Creek Course and the challenging Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club, a course designed by former world number 1 and six-time major Champion Sir Nick Faldo.

The Dasani Trophy will also be kept at Royal Club until a new winner is discovered from the next series.

The second team came from Karen on a combined score of 109 points, beating a Machakos team on count back. They were anchored by Emmanuel Agengo on 39 points, while Anthony Murage had 36 points and Clive Davis contributed 34 points. Anthony Mogere was the team’s weakest link on 28 points.

Machakos team of Fred Kilonzo (37), Dee Kivuva (36), Jackson Nzuki (36) and Larry Wambua (0) settled for the third position also on 109 points.

Paul Kaguamba won the nearest to the pin prize, while Anne Marie Vellekoop had the ladies longest drive and Edwin Kiarie had the men longest drive. Benson Wangalwa was the guest winner on 40 points and D. Aggarwal won the junior prize on 29 points. michael kors sac michael kors sac

AT STAKE: Coca Cola’s regional manager Peter Njonjo (centre) with Kenya Golf Union Chairman Alfred Kariuki (right) and Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) chairperson Anne Chubi pose with the Dasani Trophy during the launch of the Gala.

By JAMES WAINDI (Chief Editor)

Tic tok, tic tok. The 2012 Dasani Golf Gala Grand Finale is finally here, where one mega prize to be contested by 144 players.

The par 72 Karen Golf and Country Club will be the backdrop of the entire drama on Saturday, where the eventual winners, a team of four players, will land a grand prize of  travelling to Dubai to attend the Grand Finale of the European Tour, the DP World Tour Championships at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.

While in Dubai, the players will also have the opportunity to see Europe’s top 60 money earners on the 2012 Order of Merit battle it out for a 1.3 million winner’s cheque. In addition, they will play at some of the best golf courses in the region, including the Dubai Creek Course and the challenging Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club, a course designed by former world number 1 and six-time major Champion Sir Nick Faldo.

Their home club will also have the privilege of retaining the Dasani Cup until the next series.

Players started trickling in the City as early as Wednesday to shape up for the finale with majority of them using the eve of the tournament as their preferred day to feel the Karen course.

This year, the Gala had 18 qualifying rounds, with each qualifier producing eight players for the finale. It visited Kiambu, Thika, Vet Lab, Windsor, Railway, Royal, Karen, Sigona, Nyanza, Eldoret, Nyali, Leisure Lodge, Kisii, Nakuru, Nyeri, Limuru, Machakos and Muthaiga.

Among the qualifiers were caddies, clergies and lady golfers, just to show how the finale would be thrilling.

According to Karen Club officials, the course is in a perfect conditions but the green are a bit fast and would challenge the players.

This is how the teams qualified:

Kiambu: Timothy Kihara, Eliud Kuria, Newton Mwangi and Thomas Kimari; Col. Julius Githiri, Julius Githiri, Joseph Biriri and Mofart Kanyeria.

Thika: Dr. Joseph Karanja, Andrew Muriuki, Patrick Karanja and Andrew Kimani; Edwin Kiarie, John Komo, Njuguna Kahoya and Jimmy Mbugua.

Vet Lab: Ochieng’ Abekah, Michael Kinuthia, Sankale ole Kantai and Martin Mukundi; John Kisolo, Njani Ndiritu, Francis Mwangi and Simon Mbugua.

Windsor: Paresh Shah, C. V. Shah, Nishit Haria and Gohil; Kapoor Rajput, Nashir Abdullah, Ali Merali, N. Kassam.

Railways: James Mburu Muiga, Robert Maina, Frank Kaniaru and David Mbatia; Nassir Abbas, D. Kaburi, H. Hasanli and G. S. Padam.

Nyali: Pia Swatton, Perviz Barnsley, Sumali Jayasinghe and Clive Barnsley; Lyn Nicholls, J. Oluoch, John Riley and M.Lariche who posted a combined score of 110 points.

Eldoret: Mathew Kioko, James Siahi, Simeon Kurgat and Rael Kurgat; Tanvi Shah, Ayush Jethwa, Nauas Sagoo and Deeva Aggarwal.

Nyanza: Samuel Nyamweya, Geoffrey Obol, George Odongo and Lucas Nyambogo; H. S. Sokhi, J. C. Lee, Sam Deya and Wycliff Nyambogo.

Machakos: Collins Kaloki, Benard Mungata, Justice Matei and Charles Nzuki; Fred Kilonzi, Dee Kivuva, Jackson Nzuki and Larry Wambua.

Kisii: Charles Ondieki, Charles Aburi, Jeneby Onyambu, and Andrew Kombo; Cosmas Kebuse, George Mainye,Chris Maato and Wycliffe Ayienda.

Muthaiga: L. Murage, C. Njuguna, H. Kinyua and J. Karuri; J. Mugaa, C. Gikombi, J. Mutethia and J. Iracha.

Limuru: James Karanja, David Waiganjo, Cyrus Kamau and Robin Njenga; Sammy Muita Gathuri, David Mwindi, Grace Kimeria and Kenneth Mwaura.

Leisure: Wilson Atuka, Charles Sire, Ronald Omariba and Pauni Gwerenya; Gansham Kumar, Stephan Wentzel, Sabina Funk and Mike Aussi.

Royal Nairobi: Sarah Hoare, Lucy Awiti, Florence W Maina and Anne Marie Vellecop; Jessica Kang’s, Wanja Kimani, Gatere Gathiga and Kim S. Yoon.

Nakuru: Father Augustine Kipkemei, Father Paul Gitonga, Brother Francis Njoroge, Miriam Wanjiku; Alfred Nandwa, Charles Angwenyi, Stephen Mwangi and Mandip Sahota.

Karen: John Musunga, Lawrence Kiambi, F.G.Kariuki, David Kiambi; Anthony Murage, Anthony Gacheru, Anthony Mogere and Clive Davies.

Nyeri: Eddy Karumwa, Benjamin Inoti, James Mathenge, Daniel Weru; J. Gichimu, J. Maina, S. Kamau and M. Wandera.

Sigona: Rachna Patel, Deep Shah, Shamil Patel, Haren Patel; Eddy Kimemia, David Murang’a, Jimmy Muthundo and James Njeke. maillot de foot 2018 maillot de foot 2018