Aiyaz Shroff emerged as the winner of the Safari Tour’s Pro-Am tournament sponsored by Absa Bank Kenya at Muthaiga Golf Club.
The Pro-Am tournament saw an outstanding participation of 272 golfers, including 68 professionals drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.
Playing off handicap 27, Aiyaz scored 43 points, closely followed by Haren Patel who emerged the winner in the men’s category, having garnered 41 points. James Ondigo was the men’s runner up, having carded 39 points.
In the lady’s category, Jenn Muthoni, playing off handicap 34, carded 39 points to claim the top spot, two points ahead of her nearest challenger, Susan Kanyora who emerged second, playing off handicap 22.
The first 9 winner was Martin Mwangi, playing off handicap 4, to score 21 points while the second 9 winner was Martin Wanyoike who scooped a similar 21 points, playing off handicap 11.
Meanwhile, Tanish Gudhka, playing off a handicap 4, scored an impressive 36 points on the course to emerge the best junior at the Pro-Am tournament.
James Njeke claimed victory in the Nearest to Pin challenge, while Khushil Nathwani and Shivani Sanghrajka triumphed in the Longest Drive challenge among the men and ladies’ categories, respectively.
The Top Team prize went to the team led by veteran local golf pro, Dismas Indiza, having scored 88 points. They were followed by the team led by Simon Ngigi at 86 points while the third position went to the team led by Riz Charania at 84 points.
Absa Bank Kenya Chief Finance Officer, Yusuf Omari, said, “It has been an amazing day on the course which saw a record participation of golf players from Kenya and various countries across Africa. As Absa, we see our sponsorship of the three legs of the 2023/24 Safari Tour Golf Series as a great opportunity to support our local professionals and amateur players as they prepare to take on the 2024 Magical Kenya Open later in February.”
Absa Bank Kenya is sponsoring the ongoing Safari Golf Tour series to the tune of KES 4.5 million as part of its continuing commitment to the development of the sport in the country and region.
The Pro-Am tournament set the stage for four-days of intense competition at Muthaiga that will see only the top twenty players advance to rounds three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday. The winner of the Muthaiga leg of the Safari Tour will take home KES 150,000.
The top eight players in the Safari Tour will earn the opportunity to participate in the prestigious Magical Kenya Open, scheduled to take place from February 22, 2024.