NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 12 – One hundred and four junior golfers between the ages of five and 18 gathered at the Sigona Golf Club to compete in the fifth leg of the U.S. Kids Golf Spring Local Tour.
The golfers competed in different categories based on their age groups, with some playing 18 holes and others playing 9 holes.
The tournament was jointly organized by the U.S. Kids Golf and the Junior Golf Foundation Kenya and was supported by NCBA Bank as part of its commitment to supporting junior golf development in the region.
The event provided the junior players with an opportunity to qualify for U.S. Kids Golf international tournaments by earning points for Priority Status.
In the boys’ category, Junaid Manji took the top spot in the 15-18-year-old group playing 18 holes with 82 strokes, followed by Hansil Tank with 84 strokes and Kimani Gicheru with 91 strokes.
In the 13-14-year-old group playing 18 holes, Maahir Patel finished first with 77 strokes, followed by Mitansh Thacker with 85 strokes and Shashwat Harish with 87 strokes.
Mwathi Gicheru won the 12-year old’s, playing 18 holes with 80 strokes, followed by Justin Ngeera with 82 strokes and Andrew Gathere with 84 strokes.
In the 10-year-old group playing nine holes, Palash Tank finished first with 43 strokes, while Adam Nesbitt took the top spot in the 9-year-old group playing nine holes with 36 strokes.
Paren Reel finished first in the 8-year-old group playing nine holes with 44 strokes, while Zandro Obiero in the 7-year-old group playing nine holes with 44 strokes. James Tino Macakiage finished first in the 6 years and under group playing nine holes.
In the girls’ categories, Wambui Gitobu finished first in the 15-18-year-old group playing 18 holes with 127 strokes.
Yolanda Yu took the top spot in the 13-14-year-old group playing 18 holes with 91 strokes, followed by Cherono Kipkorir with 95 strokes and Imani Njoki with 99 strokes.
finished first in the 11-12-year-old group playing 18 holes with 87 strokes, followed by Brianna Ngecu with 88 strokes and Jewel Kaisha with 95 strokes.
In the 9-10-year-old group playing nine holes, Nyawira Macharia and Ashley Gachora tied for first place with 46 strokes, followed by Ashley Muyela with 47 strokes.
In the 8 years and under group playing nine holes, Aarna Mengi finished first with 42 strokes, followed by Allegra Kuhnert with 44 strokes and Wangari Kabugu with 52 strokes.
Speaking during the event, NCBA Bank Yaya Centre Branch Manager Peter Omolo expressed the bank’s commitment to supporting the development of junior golf in the region,
“At NCBA Group, we are committed to supporting the development of junior golf in the region and we believe that supporting events like this one is a crucial part of that commitment. Through our partnership, we aim to make the sport more inclusive by involving young kids in the sport from an early age,” said Omolo.
“Additionally, we believe that sports like golf are important in instilling important life skills, such as discipline, focus, and teamwork, in young people and we, therefore, hope to help young people in the region develop these skills and achieve their full potential,” he added.
The U.S. Kids Golf Spring Local Tour now takes a break, with the next leg set for 5th July 2023 at Thika Sports Club.
