This archive report was first published on 17 November 2019.
On November 17, 2019, the Thika Sports Club course played host to the Safari Park Hotel-sponsored Winston Churchill Cup, where Mutahi Kibugu, an 18-year-old golfer from Muthaiga Golf Club, emerged victorious.
Kibugu's impressive performance saw him complete a two-round total of level par 144, surpassing his competitors in the process.
He started the tournament with a round of one over par 73 in the opening round on Friday, but bounced back with an early birdie at the second hole on Saturday's final round. Although he followed it with two bogeys at the fourth and sixth holes, he managed to pick up one shot back at the seventh and crowned the nine with an eagle at the ninth.
Carrying a two-under-par score to the back nine, Kibugu dropped a shot at the 12th but birdied the 14th and 15th holes, despite a late double bogey at the 17th. His one-under-par 71 finish was still a shot better than Nyali Golf and Country Club's Daniel Nduva, who carded a level-par 72 to finish with a total of one over par 145 gross.
"A win finally. I am very happy winning this event, this is good for me and my golf as I just needed to experience how it feels winning a big event with all the top amateurs around," said Kibugu, who finished second in this year's Junior Strokeplay Championship at his home club.
The final leaderboard in the Winston Churchill Cup was as follows:
- Mutahi Kibugu (Muthaiga) - 73, 71 = 144
- Daniel Nduva (Nyali) - 73, 72 = 145
- Samuel Njoroge (Railway) - 76, 70 = 146
- Taimur Malik (Muthaiga) - 72, 77 = 149
- William Odera (Golf Park) - 75, 76 = 151
- Peter Rimui (Thika) - 75, 76 = 151
- David Matano (Thika) - 76, 77 = 153
- Chris Andrea (Ruiru) - 79, 75 = 154
- Anthony Irungu (Muthaiga) - 75, 79 = 154
- Ben Omondi (Ruiru) - 80, 76 = 156
