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Muthaiga Golf Club, Nyali Golf Club, Sigona Golf Club, and Golf Park Golf Club are the winners of the 2022 Inaugural patron’s cup in their different categories.
Muthaiga won a trophy after garnering 74.5points , Nyali a plaque with 93.5 points , Sigona Golf Club won a shield 66.5 points and Golf Park Golf Club won a bowl after garnering 59 points.
The events started on Friday with an afternoon Foursome Matchplay, on Saturday morning 4Ball Better Ball ( 4BBB) followed by another Foursomes Matchplay in the afternoon and on the last day, Sunday 16th October 2022, individual Singles Matchplay.
” In honour of Former President the late Mwai Kibaki, we will remain humble as he was and will not go around saying how we made it. It’s such an honor to win this,” Muthaiga Golf Club team captain stated.
Addressing the media during the awarding Ceremony the Kibaki family announced that the tournament would be an Annual event and will work with KGU and Muthaiga to ensure it’s a strong event to work with many teams to participating.
‘I would like to that Muthaiga Golf Club and the Kenya Golf Union for organising such a wonderful event.We as the Kibaki family would like to have this event yearly and we will ensure that the teams are well sponsored’ Said Judy Kibaki during the prize giving ceremony.
The event was sponsored by G4s , Krups Coffee , and Kenya Golf Union.
“We will come out as the golfers from the different clubs to ensure the clubhouse is rebuilt better than it was,” he stated.
During the event, former long-distance runner Moses Tanui donated a trophy that he won in1996 in France . The Trophy will be a patron’s cup floating trophy and will be housed in Muthaiga until next year’s event.
This was in honor of the late President and Patron of Kenya Golf Union Mwai Kibaki.
“He is the only president who decided to reward athletes who win Marathons. I announce today that I have given my trophy which I won way back in 1996 in honor of him,” Tanui stated.
Making his remarks during the reward ceremony Muthaiga Golf Club Captain called on the Education Ministry to introduce Golf in schools as it is a normal game like the others such as football.
The Chairman stated that the tournament will be an annual event to immortalize the former President.
He also applauded Eldoret Golf club for going beyond their problem and attending the Inaugural cup as their club got burnt last week Wednesday.
“Muthaiga Golf Club being the Home of Golf and housing the Kenya Golf Union, chose to immortalize H.E. Kibaki’s legacy by organizing a three (3) day interclub golf tournament dubbed The Patron’s Cup. This event has also been sanctioned by the Kenya Golf Union.’ Said Ronald Meru Chairman Muthaiga Golf Club.
Further on, Ronald Meru thanked the teams and the Management of Muthaiga Golf club for ensuring the event becomes a success.
The Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Chairman Njani Nderitu congratulated the Muthaiga board team for conceptualizing the event revealing that they are in talks with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum development (KICD) and in January with a pilot of ten schools golf will be introduced to schools.
He stated that Universities which have the Golf game in their schools will soon be having a tournament too.
He also called on schools to treat Golf like any other games as it is a normal one just like the rest.
According to Njani, teams with Women and young people are best suited for the future as they are well composed.
“We are in talks with KICD and the first pilot of ten schools will be in January 2023. When a woman plays golf, the husband has no choice but to play golf and this is in one way attracts the children to playing golf. Make an effort of thinking about the future by including juniors on your teams,” Nderitu stated.
Muthaiga being the club where Kibaki was a member and where the Inaugural Patron tournament was held, it will host the coming patron events that will be held annually.
Nyali and Eldoret Golf Cubs have been booked permanently to the tournament as they made an effort to participate without an invitation.
The first teams in every category have been promoted to the next as the second runners up(third) have been demoted to the lower category for the 2023 Patrons tournament.