Former basketball player wins golf tournament

A former basketball player won the overall title after beating a total of 150 golfers during the inaugural Uganda Airlines Golf tournament held over the weekend in Mombasa County.

A total of 25 legislators drawn from both Kenya and Uganda took part during the one-day tournament held at the famous Nyali Golf and Country in Nyali constituency.

Teresia Odoo, a Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] employee, posted 43 points to be crowned overall winner and was awarded a trophy and a return air ticket to Kampala, Uganda.

Teresia, who is former national basketball player, played off 17 handicap and managed to score 23 points on the first nine holes and 20 points on the second nine holes to be crowned overall winner.

She registered her first overall victory this year after winning in other different categories in the year’s golf tournaments.

The airline Country Manager Peggy Macharia presided over the colourful awarding ceremony at the club house.

Nyali club golfer Sanjay Kotecha won in the men’s category after posting 40 points on count back.

Playing off 18 handicap he scored 18 points on the first nine holes and 22 points on the second nine holes.

A banker, Omar Lewa, who is club director won the men’s runners-up award after positing 40 points.

Playing off on improved 9 handicap he managed to score 21 points on the first nine holes and 19 points on the second nine holes.

In the ladies’ category the award was taken by Jung Lee after posting 39 points on count back playing off 22 handicap.

Former club lady captain Susan Stokes won the ladies’ runners-up award after she managed to post 39 points when playing off 9 handicap.

Divinah Ongaki won the third award in the ladies’ category while playing off 24 handicap and managed to post 34 points.

In her brief remarks, the airline Country Manager told the golfers they have resolved to host the inaugural tournament at the port city after hosting the annual series of golf tournaments in the capital of Nairobi.

She added the day’s tournament is one of the leading sensitization exercises using the day’s inaugural event to highlight it.

“After the leisure there is also the sensitization of the airline’s business in terms of clients who are clearing their goods and cargo through the port of Mombasa,” she pointed out.

Speaking during the awarding ceremony Shinyalu legislator Fred Ikana who is member of the National Assembly golf team said they are privileged to take part in the day’s tournament which brought members of parliament from the country and their Uganda counterparts together.

He pointed out both teams had a nice time in the course and applauded the airline for supporting golf initiative and extending it to Mombasa County.

“The day’s tournament is an extension of bilateral relations and engagement away from formal settings,” he added.

On his part, Matuga legislator Kassim Tandaza described golf as a disciplined sports being competed in the region by elected leaders drawn from both countries.

He pointed out the regional states have increased to seven from six last year with the inclusion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which has formally joined the East African Community bloc guided by the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

“There is a special bond between Kenya and our Uganda counterparts through sports,” he pointed out.