Karano, Winja win Pan Africa series

 

Nyanza's Noah Winja, qualifier winner at the Pan Africa Life Golf Series Grand Finale receives an all expenses paid ticket to the Sanlam Cancer Challenge, 21-22 October 2013, Sun City Golf Resort from Ezekiel Owuor, the National Sales Manager, Pan Africa Life. NATION PHOTO. 

In Summary

• The two will now represent Kenya at the Sanlam Cancer Challenge at the Sun City Golf Resort from October 21 to 22.
• Karano, a handicap-seven golfer and a former Kenya International star was on top form carding four over par gross total for 39-points.

By Larry Ngala

Former ladies amateur champion Mary Karano from Vet Lab and Nyanza’s Noah Winja emerged the winners of the Pan Africa Life Golf Series Grand Finale at Muthaiga Golf Club on Friday.

The two will now represent Kenya at the Sanlam Cancer Challenge at the Sun City Golf Resort from October 21 to 22, where they will join other golfers in raising funds for the fight against cancer.

Karano, a handicap-seven golfer and a former Kenya International star was on top form carding four over par gross total for 39-points.

She picked six pars on each nine, a birdie on the par-four- 17th and five bogeys to secure the corporate prize and an all expenses paid ticket for Karano.

“I thank Pan Africa Life for inviting me to participate at their Grand Finale, I promise to represent them well at the Sanlam Cancer Challenge in Sun City.”

Nyanza’s Noah Winja, a handicap-eight golfer, posted a score 38 points to claim his place on the all expenses paid trip to the Sanlam Cancer Challenge.

He had qualified for the Grand Finale from Nyanza Club and said he was pleased with his round.

“I have not been playing much golf, my campaign efforts in the Siaya County gubernatorial race were very taxing on time,” Winja said.

“Luckily, I was a member of Muthaiga before moving to Nyanza and memories of this course served me well.”

He did not play well in the opening nine though nine pars at the back nine did the magic. Congratulating the winners, Tom Gitogo, the Pan Africa Life CEO, said that Mary Karano and Noah Winja would join other golfers from South Africa at the Sanlam Cancer Challenge in October.

“I trust that Karano and Winja will be good ambassadors for Pan Africa Life, a member of the Sanlam Group, and that they will be even better ambassadors for Kenya.”

Ezekiel Owuor, the Pan Africa Life National Sales Manager produced a round of his life, an impressive 41 points to claim the staff prize.

Patrick Mbuthia was the qualifier runner up with 36 points and Krishan Sarna was the third qualifier with 33 points. Phil Kinisu runner up in the corporate category and in third was Muchau Githiaka.

Taipei, Thailand

In Taipei, Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant battled to a one-shot victory in the Yeangder Tournament Players’ Championship Sunday, securing an unprecedented 16th Asian Tour title in the process.

Thaworn, whose best result before this week was tied 28th in May, achieved a four-under-par 68 for a 13-under-par total of 275 in the $500,000 event.

Overnight leader Chan Kim of the United States led for most of the round, but stumbled in the closing stretch when he made three straight bogeys from the 15th hole.

He ended second after shooting a 70 at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

Angelo Que of the Philippines, a three-times Asian Tour winner, ended the event with a 66, the day’s best round, to finish third on 279.

“I’m very proud because I can still win at the age of 46. I was really struggling with my irons but I chipped and putted so well.

I honestly didn’t think that I could win,” said Thaworn, in comments supplied by the organisers.

He had traded two birdies and one bogey after four holes to trail Kim by three shots, but recovered after a one-hour suspension due to rain with a pair of birdies on five and six.
Thaworn added another birdie on 13 to secure victory as Kim faded.

“Kim is such a powerful golfer and he had a lot of advantage on the par fives. I had to stay patient. I didn’t think I could have won and I would have been satisfied with second place.

But he started to drop shots and all of a sudden I was in the lead and I won,” said Thaworn.

Kim was upset at his late fade after starting strongly. He eagled the first hole from three feet and added birdies on holes three, four and 10.

“I got a little greedy. I tried to get my ball out further so I could get a shorter club into the green,” the 23-year-old said.

“I think that’s something which I have to learn, because all I had to do today was actually play a bit smarter. I will use this experience in my future tournaments.”
(Aditional reporting by AFP)