- Allan Mugusha and Joy Gichuru won the men’s and women’s Longest Drive awards, respectively, while Stephen Karabao and Julie Bagamuhunda claimed the men’s and women’s Nearest to the Pin awards, respectively.
Nyahururu Golf Club’s Chrispin Sankale emerged as the overall winner of the inaugural Golf Fore Tee-Tees Tournament held on Friday at Limuru Country Club in Kiambu County.
The tournament, an initiative by breast cancer survivor Wambui Gitonga, was sponsored by Oxygene Marketing and Communication Ltd, alongside other partners, including Nairobi South Hospital, to support breast cancer awareness and advocacy.
Playing off a handicap of 21, Sankale delivered an impressive performance, scoring 46 Stableford points, with 24 on the front nine and 22 on the back nine, to beat a field of more than 200 participants and claim the inaugural title.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, Sankale said, “I am delighted to win the inaugural Golf Fore Tee-Tees Tournament. It was a wonderful day of golf, bringing together players and partners for a cause that goes beyond the game.
“Winning this title makes the experience even more special, knowing that we have also contributed to raising awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early screening as we mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”
Sylvia Kurgat finished second overall with 43 points, while Daniel Kamiti took third place with 42 points. Kurgat and Kamiti also claimed the women’s and men’s category titles, respectively.
The Gross Winner award was presented to Fidelis Kimanzi, after garnering 75 points.
The sponsors’ category awards went to Mureithi Mutahi of Oxygene Marketing and Communication Ltd and Dr. Abdisalan Maalim of Nairobi South Hospital, who scored 40 and 32 points, respectively.
Allan Mugusha and Joy Gichuru won the men’s and women’s Longest Drive awards, respectively, while Stephen Karabao and Julie Bagamuhunda claimed the men’s and women’s Nearest to the Pin awards, respectively.
The tournament was initiated by breast cancer survivor Wambui Gitonga to use golf as a platform to raise awareness about breast cancer, promote wellness and early screening, and celebrate the courage and resilience of patients and survivors. The event was held as the world marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October under the theme “Every Story Is Unique, Every Journey Matters.”
“As a breast cancer survivor, this initiative is deeply personal to me. I understand the importance of awareness, early detection and having a strong support system throughout the journey. Through Golf Fore Tee-Tees, we want to continue creating opportunities for people to come together, enjoy the game of golf and, most importantly, amplify the message that early screening can make a difference,” said Wambui Gitonga
“Seeing more than 200 participants come together in support of this cause, alongside more than 70 people who underwent screening, is encouraging. I hope this initiative will inspire more people to prioritise their health and stand with those affected by breast cancer. Our goal is to make this an annual event and continue using golf to drive awareness and encourage early detection.” Added, Wambui.
The event attracted golfers, corporate representatives and well-wishers from the banking, healthcare, telecommunications, public relations and marketing sectors. Participating organisations included Oxygene Marketing and Communication Ltd, Nairobi South Hospital, PKF, NCBA, KCB, Faraja, Safaricom, Gulf Energy, Vivo Energy, National Bank and DTB Bank, among others.
Nick Wachira, Managing Director at Oxygene Marketing and Communication Ltd, said the sponsorship reflected the organisation’s commitment to supporting initiatives that use partnerships and community engagement to advance important social causes.
“We believe communication and meaningful partnerships can play an important role in driving awareness and inspiring action on issues that affect our communities. Supporting Golf Fore Tee-Tees reflects our commitment to initiatives that bring people together around a shared purpose. We are proud to have partnered with Wambui and other stakeholders to support this important cause, raise breast cancer awareness and encourage early screening as we mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month."
The inaugural Golf Fore Tee-Tees Tournament marked a step towards establishing a platform where golf, wellness and advocacy can work together to sustain breast cancer awareness beyond October.