James Chirchir dominated the third leg of the 2024 NCBA Bank Golf series at Eldoret Sports Club on Saturday, securing victory on home turf.
Playing off handicap 11, Chirchir shrugged off stiff competition from other North Rift region golfers to emerge as the winner in the Division One category.
He carded a remarkable round of 41 Stableford points at the nine-hole Eldoret Sports Club course.
In the Ladies’ category, Miriam Wanjiku, playing off handicap 12, showcased her talent and skill, clinching victory with a final score of 36 points.
Gracemary Karira, playing off a handicap of 6, secured the runner-up position with an equally impressive score of 36 points.
In Division Two, Cheptoo Johana claimed victory in the Men’s category with 36 points, and Satwinder Sagoo emerged victorious in the Ladies’ category with an impressive 40 Stableford points.
Anita Cherop demonstrated exceptional skills in Division Three, emerging triumphant with 33 Stableford points.
In the subsidiary categories, Josephine Chesang claimed victory as the Guest winner after scoring 32 points, and Rahab Thuo emerged victorious in the Staff category with a score of 31 points.
Junior golfer Ryan Tolgos showcased remarkable talent, securing victory among the juniors with an impressive gross score of 100 points.
Speaking during the event, Jacquie Muhati, NCBA Group Deputy Director and Head of Brands said the 2024 NCBA Golf series has continued to witness some great golfing action.
“I must say that the journey has started very well as we have witnessed some great golfing action that shows great promise for the future of our sport across Kenya – and this is exactly what we seek to achieve through this series,” said Muhati.
The Eldoret event marked a significant milestone with a record number of twelve juniors participating, underlining the growing interest and uptake of golf among the younger generation beyond Nairobi.
“We are encouraged by the great number of junior participants who joined the Eldoret leg of the NCBA Series events. This record-breaking turnout highlights the growing enthusiasm for golf among young players beyond Nairobi and underscores the inclusive nature of the sport,” she said.
She added, “It’s a testament to our commitment to fostering the next generation of golfers and promoting the game’s accessibility across diverse regions.”
Eldoret Sports Club captain Dr. Mathew Koech said the NCBA Golf Series brought a wonderful display of talent to their club.
“We are thrilled to have hosted such a prestigious event, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation to NCBA for their continued support in promoting golf in our region,” said Koech.
After the Eldoret leg, the Series will resume on April 20, with the fourth leg hosted at Ruiru Sports Club.
This leg marks the continuation of the series, which comprises a total of 23 legs played across various golf clubs in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.