Green Zone team led by Frankie Gichuru emerged the victors in the Eileen Belcher tournament, carrying home the 2022 trophy as the winners of the year.
Vet Lab’s Frankie Gichuru led her Green Zone team to be crowned the 2022 champions of the coveted Eileen Belcher trophy of the year, at the Vet Lab Golf Club on the weekend.
The team comprising recently crowned Kenya Ladies Open Amateur Matchplay Champion, Mercy Nyanchama, Agnes Nyakio, Joyce Wanjiru, Wanjiru Karume, Belinda Wanjiru, youngster Chanelle Wangari and team captain Frankie Gichuru, amassed 16 points to rule the roost at the 83rd edition of the competition.
The convenor of the group was Patricia Wangongu.
In Division B, the team captained by Rachel Nadi also of Vet Lab and leading another Green Zone side was feted with the Sinclair Quaich trophy after managing 13 points.
Other members of the team were Dorcas Mukabi, Grace Wanjohi, Hellen Manyara, Mille Nyaga, Carol Kibanya, and Lucy Maina.
Captain
Susan Koinange captained her Yellow Zone team to the Division C title, winning the Palmer Trophy with 14 points. Members of her team included Irene Kimeu, Nelius Kariuki, Jane Nzibo, Sarah Mkok, C. W. Mungai, and Minie Mbue.
The 54-hole competition attracted a total of 96 lady golfers who played foursomes matches playing off-scratch in all three divisions.
The two-day event which was originally known as the Inter District Cup has been a key local event for women’s golf as it attracts lady golfers from all over the country.
The cup was presented by Eileen in 1937 to encourage match-play between the districts. Belcher was the first Chairman of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) and over the years, the format has changed and is currently played in four zones.
Each of the four zones is made up of several clubs forming a team of three pairs, with one reserve.
The scoring during the competition was two points for a match won and one point for a match halved. Since 2021 the clubs have been zoned in four categories, Red Zone (Royal, Sigona, and Western Region), Green Zone (Vetlab, Windsor, Railway, and Central Region), Yellow Zone (Muthaiga, Limuru, and Coast Region), and Blue Zone (Karen, Golf Park, and Rift Valley Region).
The winners of Division A whose players’ handicap index range from +5.0 to 14.0 were feted with the Eileen Belcher Trophy.
The Sinclair Quaich award is presented to the winners of Division B whose handicap index ranges between 11.3 and 20.4 and the Palmer Trophy is presented to winners of Division C whose handicap index range from 20.5 to 28.9. The competition is played off a scratch handicap.
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The Sinclair Quaich was presented by Mary Sinclair, KLGU Chairman 1984. The Palmer Trophy was presented by Edward Palmer, in 1982, when his daughter Susan Harworth was KLGU Chairman. Edward Palmer is Eileen Belcher’s younger brother
