45th Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship

The 45th Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship was held on the PGA Baobab Golf Course from 20th to 23rd October.

74 entrants played the first 2 days and 48 made The Cut for the weekend.

The players unanimously praised the golf course, layout and especially the exceptional quality of the upgraded greens here at Vipingo Ridge.

Owing to the wind and tricky pin positions they all found the competition extremely challenging.

The Champion, John Lejirma won with a total of 299 strokes, 10 ahead of the 2 tied second. Vipingo Ridg'e’s Adel Balala, the defending champion, came in 4th, 11 behind the winning score.

John managed to par both days of the weekend which was brilliant golf.

Isaac Makokha who tied second had won the Bronze medal in the golf in the Deaflympics in Brazil this year.

The KGU chairman Njani Ndiritu and the Executives with the Champion John Lejirma.

Bizzie Frost was the starter for all 4 days.

The Kenya Golf Union plaque given in appreciation to Vipingo Ridge.

Adel Balala, the defending champion and Kenya Team player.

Competitor Moses Tanui, the Great Rift representative at the Starter’s Desk. He was the 10,000 metres Gold medalist in the 1991 Tokyo World Championships and winner of the 1996 and 1998 Boston Marathon.

The players appreciated the wildlife on the course.

There was a Subsidiary Golf Competition for all club players held on Saturday afternoon with 80 entrants. This meant we had 128 playing that day.

The winner was Betty Bundotich with 40 points who won on count back from Chris Wilson who also had 40. Ushwin Khanna was 3rd with 37 points. These were excellent scores.

This was followed by prizegiving, speeches and a superb dinner in the Sundowner.

Betty receiving the First Prize, a golf bag presented by Abigail from the KGU.

Chris receiving the 2nd prize, a golf bag trolley from KGU’s Abigail.