Ecobank Club Nite Golf: Why Champion Njoroge Now Wants To Attack The Fairways Like Tiger Woods In His Prime
Robert Njoroge Ngari (Right) awarded by Ecobank Ag. Director, Commercial Banking, Victor Mbaabu for winning the inaugural Ecobank Club Nite at Kenya Railways Golf Club on Thursday night. PHOTO/ ECOBANK
Njoroge fired 44 stableford points to floor 154 rivals at Railways Golf Club on Thursday evening.
By Erick Ochieng and Lopez Atieno
NAIROBI, Kenya- Homeboy Robert Njoroge Ngari fired 44 stableford points to win the inaugural Ecobank Club Nite at Kenya Railways Golf Club in Nairobi on Thursday evening.
The handicap nine hard hitter floored other 154 contestants to ascend to the throne during the tough outing where he was given a run for his money by Raphael Manyasi and Bilhah Njoki who carded 43 and 42 points to finish runners and third place in that order.
For his effort, Njoroge was awarded with a return air ticket to Mombasa courtesy of Safarilink and a swahili night dinner for two courtesy of Serena Hotels.
“The course was not easy to penetrate, but I was balanced emotionally. It’s this mental toughness that led me to the victory,” the immediate former club vice chairman told Standard Sports.
“It really feels great to be a winner. This is the second trophy I’m nestling in my cabinet in a span of two weeks. Last weekend, I was also a champion on this course in a very big way,” Njoroge said.
Robert Njoroge Ngari gives winner’s speech after lifting the inaugural Ecobank Club Nite at Kenya Railways Golf Club on Thursday night. PHOTO/ ECOBANK
The over 60-year-old engineer hinted that he has managed to be flawless due to committed practices at the venue, a move that has helped him to master the course and the pin positions so well.
“Like a head of this tournament, I started doing my homework last Friday, I practiced from Friday to Wednesday this week, so come Thursday, during this tournament, it was just a matter of ticking the bucket list,” Njoroge said.
And because of his current blazing form, Njoroge is looking forward to dropping his single handicap to even much lower.
“My intention is to scale it down from nine to a further seven. I hope that by the end of the season I will be attacking the golf courses like the legendary Tiger Woods in his prime,” he explained.
To continue with his good run, Njoroge has lined up a number of tournaments in coming weeks slated for Thika, Karen and Vetlab.
When asked what he thinks of the inaugural Ecobank Club Nite tourney, Njoroge stated: “It’s a great championship that allows golfers and clients to mingle, interact and network. I think the bank is doing the right thing in line with the promotion of sports in the country.”
Robert Njoroge Ngari (Middle) awarded Swahili Night Dinner For 2 courtesy of Serena Hotels. PHOTO/ECOBANK
According to Noroge, for one to be a great golf player, they need to own good sets of clubs, do consistent practices and be toughened mentally.
Some of the benefits that Njoroge has derived from the game include fitness, connections, referrals, networking and professional advice which all have made him make money in a way that he can never imagine.
Cyprian Rono, Ecobank Director Corporate Bank for Kenya and East African Community, said the tournament is one of their various ways to reach players and clients at their happiest points in the grassroots.
‘We are proud to be the first sponsors to have pulled up over 130 players at the Kenya Railways Golf Club this season.
“This is just the beginning. We want to engage players and clients in various spaces involving sports across the country.
“Kenya is a sporting community and we have now planned to be part of it in a very big way by spreading our wings to other sports disciplines,” Rono said.
Ecobank Club Nite Results
Overall Winner: Robert Njoroge 44 Stableford points
Runners Up: Raphael Manyasi 43
Third Place: Bilhah Njoki 42
Man Winner: Kithinji Kanyaura 41
Lady Winner: Lisa Apukey 39
Guest Winner: Alvin Imeje 41
Staff Winner: Kevin Murithi 35
Junior Winner: Saruni Meely 38
Best Effort: Irene Githinji 14
