There was cutthroat competition at the par 71 Eldoret Club as Standard County Golf Classic series teed off on the pristine golf course in Uasin Gishu County on Sunday.
Former winners and home players Anika Patel and Wesley Kiprono were among the over 200 participants who attacked the glorious fairways for honours.
“First nine has not been okay with me, hopefully I cruise through the second nine,” Patel told Standard Sports as she turned for the back nine.
Unlike Patel, Kiprono had a splendid opening nine. He had hoped to continue with the good run in the back nine.
“So far so good, the greens have been fair enough,” Kiprono stated at the turn.
Handicap 18, Josephat Murenga Acharo, from Nandi Bears, had a target to amass 44 points to carry the day in the championship.
“It’s my first time in this tournament, and I believe the targeted points will help me to lift the trophy,” Acharo stated.
Monica Waithera, who has come all the way from Kitale Club with other ten participants, said they were out to have fun, at the same time, support Eldoret Club as they hosted the Standard Group PLC showpiece.
“This competition has given us an avenue to network. Eldoret Club is also our sister course, so we are here to give them the moral support they need during the hosting of this event,” handicap 30.4 Waithera, who had an impressive outing in the tournament last year, underlined.
Tournament partners Eka Hotel, Safaricom, Eldoret Club and Stabex International were all onboard to showcase their products during the competition as they reinforced the championship theme ‘On the green course, for the green cause’ in support of sustainable actions on climate change.
“The tournament is a great initiative. We are proud to be part of it. We pledge to continue making it a yearly affair,” Peris Saina, Eka Hotel Sales Manager, said.
Safaricom Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ndegwa, said concerning their affiliation with the tournament: “We are proud to support sustainable actions on climate change through partnership with the prestigious Standard County Golf Classic. Through our Emerald platform, we aim to connect with our customers not just through our products but also their passion points, like sports, as we celebrate 25 years of transforming lives.”
Duncan Murei, Stabex International Head of Sales and Marketing, said the championship was giving them a lee-way to make their products visible, not only to the players but to their clients in Eldoret town.
“This will not be a one-off event for us. We hope to continue with this partnership in a bigger and better way to make the future bright,” Murei stated.
Meanwhile, the Standard Group held a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative at Bobleo Children Home in West Pokot County ahead of the golf tournament.
Other partners who joined the leading national broadcaster in this gesture included the Manu Chandaria Foundation, the Rose and Roses, Eka Hotel, Leonora Enterprises, Paul’s Bakery, the West Pokot County Government, and the Catholic Diocese of Kitale.
During the occasion, the media house and the partners donated goods worth millions of shillings to the children’s home that included tree seedlings, wheelchairs, mattresses, bedsheets, pillows, bales of flour, sanitary towels and packets of milk.
Others were cooking oil, flowers, blankets, diapers, beans, dry maize, rice, open shoes, bread, t-shirts, laptops and soft drinks.
“We have also donated four employees (two men and two women) to the children’s home, who will be paid by the county government. We will also upgrade the schools’ (Bobleo primary and secondary) football grounds,” West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin highlighted.