Machakos Club’s Veronica Muthiani was crowned the top golfer after emerging the ‘Winner of winners’ 2023 in the grand finale of the ICEALION King of the course golf tournament played at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club Course in Mombasa County on Saturday.

Playing off handicap 19 Muthiani braved the unfriendly Coastal heat by carding a total of 32 points in both nines to be crowned the ultimate winner.

“Iam astonished with this victory. It was a good day with the course playing well and my four ball partners who really made the day enjoyable. Thank you all and I hope to defend the title next year,”said Muthiani. 

The day’s event featured the Series winners from Machakos,Thika Greens,Ruiru,Eldoret,Nandi, Nanyuki was graced  by 237 golfers including those playing for the Nyali series supported by ICEALion group.

Muthiani will get a fully paid king of the Course golf tour for two in March 2024 which includes representation in the Regional Triangular Lekoa Classic tournament in Johannesburg 2 Vall River Golf Estate to be confirmed.

Home Club’s youthful 19 years old golfer Nathan Ngweno playing off handicap 7 brought an excellent score of 40 points to emerge the Nyali Series winner.

William Kaguta playing off handicap -1 was the gross winner on a four under par score of 67 gross to scoop the Gross winner prize and again Ngweno added another prize of being the gross runners up on a count back score of two over par 74 gross.

The men winner was handicap 16 George Thama who had a two way count back score of 39 points after tying on the same score with runners placed handicap 24 Kennedy Kisoi and third placed  handicap 19 Mburu Mwangi. 

The Lady winner was handicap 19  Grace Kwamboka on a count back score of 37 points tying on the same score with handicap 25 Caroline Nyarandi who was the runners up.

Paul Macharia playing off handicap 28 had a score of 39 points to claim the best senior prize while handicap 16 Tony Gachau on 36 points was the junior winner.

Handicap 39 Sarah Tuwei on 38 points won the ICEA Staff prize while handicap 18 Moonaver Dhanani  with 38 points and handicap 20 Dr.Mukhisa Kitui on 37 points were the guest and runners up winners respectively.

The High handicapper’s winner’s prize was scooped by handicap 36 Daniel Kigen with 44 points and handicap 41 Fina Almao returned 38 points to take the runners slot.

Nyali Golf and Country Club Chairman Kamami Njoroge and his Club Captain Dinesh Sasan said they were delighted to have hosted the Culmination of the event’s grand finale and thanked the sponsors and Golfers for making the day successful.

The ICEALION Series Golf Captain Joe Mboya who was the Machakos Country Club’s Captain when the series started in January, thanked Nyali for handling  the event successfully and praised  the Club’s green keeper George Choge maintaining the course in an excellent condition.

ICEALION group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Philip Lopokoiyit said they are extremely delighted to be back to Nyali to conclude the 7th leg of the ICEA LION King of the Course golf series which started in Machakos on January 7th.

“We have since held tournaments at Thika Greens, Ruiru, Nanyuki and later in the year Eldoret & Nandi Bears, continuously breaking records in attendance and the success of ICEA LION King of the Course series relies to a great extent on the support of our partner clubs and their membership as I especially take this opportunity to thank the participating Golf Captains some of whom sit at the ICEA LION King of the Course golf organizing committee, the other Clubs for hosting the series and the effort we have all put into making this great success.

"Our continuing commitment to the participating clubs is in recognition of the unwavering support of clubs whom we insure, the Clients within their memberships and the regions who have entrusted their insurance solutions to ICEA LION over a long period of time,” said Philip Lopokoiyit.

The CEO explained that Mombasa holds a very special and strategic place for ICEA LION which traces its history back to this Coastal town when Smith Mackenzie & Company were appointed as the local Lloyd’s Agents in 1895.

“We have maintained a presence in Mombasa since then and have recently moved into a new branch which houses both our General Insurance and Life Assurance Businesses at ACACIA Building, along Nyerere Avenue, Mezzanine floor. We also have an office at Nyali Mall and we urge each one of you to pay us a visit when looking for Insurance, Trusts and Investment solutions. Ours is to help you protect and create your wealth,” said Philip Lopokoiyit.

He said that although they have not formed a formidable team in golf at ICEA LION, he was encouraged to see more members of Staff and Directors participating in the ICEA LION King of the Course golf tournaments which provides a perfect platform for all of them to perfect their golfing skills as they engage with our customers. By Maarufu Mohamed, The Standard