Both events supported by NCBA Bank is jointly organized by U.S. Kids Golf and the Junior Golf Foundation Kenya;
DOUGLAS MWALE-IMG KENYA LTD;
This past weekend saw a remarkable display of talent as 319 young golfers took to the course for the U.S. Kids Golf Spring Local Tour doubleheader hosted at Karen Country Club and Muthaiga Golf Club on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Saturday’s event at the ever-green par-72 Karen course saw 145 young golfers compete, while Sunday’s event at the par-71 Muthaiga course attracted 174 juniors.
The tournaments, jointly organized by U.S. Kids Golf and the Junior Golf Foundation Kenya and supported by NCBA Bank, aimed to provide junior golfers with a platform to refine their skills and enhance their competitiveness.
Juniors ranging from 5 to 18 years old, these talented young golfers showcased their abilities in age-appropriate competitions against their peers.
At the Karen leg, Ewan Van Niekerk emerged as the top player in the boys’ 15-18-year-olds category with a score of 83 gross, followed closely by Ishan Samani with 84 gross.
In the boys’ 13-14-year-olds category, Shashwat Harish claimed victory with 75 gross points, while Justin Ngeera won the boys 12-year-olds category with 81 gross.
Amar Shah achieved the best score among the 11-year-old boys with 81 gross.
In the boys, ten, nine, eight, seven, and six-and-under categories, Gitonga Gitobu, Adam Nesbitt, Paren Ree, Ivan Kipyegon Kimutai, and Surya Bongu were crowned winners.
Among the girls, Hazel Kuria secured top honors in the 15-18-year-olds category with a score of 93 gross, while Cherono Kipkorir emerged as the winner in the 13-14-year-olds category with 79 gross.
In other categories of younger golfers playing nine holes, Marya Nyambura won among the 11-12-year-olds with 83 gross, Ashley Gachora excelled among the 9-10-year-olds with 41 gross, and Aarna Mengi was the top junior among the 8-years-and-under category.
Meanwhile, at Muthaiga, Junaid Manji claimed first place in the boys’ 15-18-year-olds category with a round of 76, defeating Ewan Van Niekerk, who finished with 83 gross.
Nathan Mwangi emerged as the winner in the boys’ 13-14-year-olds category with 79 points, edging out Tsevi Soni on countback. Mwathi Gicheru topped the 12-year-old category with an impressive score of 74 gross.
In other categories, Amar Shah (11-year-olds), Gitonga Gitobu (10-year-olds), Adam Nesbitt (nine-year-olds), Paren Reel (eight-year-olds), Nathan Mwai (seven-year-old), and James Tino (six-year-olds-and-under) were crowned winners.
Among the girls, Hazel Kuria claimed victory in the 15-18-year-olds category with 82 gross, while Cherono Kipkorir took the top spot in the 13-14-year-olds category with 85 gross.
In other categories, Brianna Ngecu (11-12-year-olds), Aria Dodhia (nine-to-ten-year-olds), and Irene Asiyo (eight years and under) were crowned winners.
NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora expressed his delight in supporting the U.S. Kids Golf Spring Local Tour, emphasizing the company’s commitment to junior golf development.
“At NCBA Bank, we are deeply committed to supporting junior golf development in the region. We recognize our young golfers’ incredible potential and skill, and we believe in providing them with the necessary resources and opportunities to flourish in their golfing journeys, “said Gachora.
“The U.S. Kids Golf Spring Local Tour is an exceptional platform for our junior golfers to showcase their abilities and compete against their peers. It encourages healthy competition and fosters camaraderie and a love for the game. We are proud to be a part of this journey and support these talented individuals as they chase their dreams on the fairways,” added Gachora.
These tournaments allow junior golfers to qualify for international tournaments organized by U.S. Kids Golf.
By earning points for Priority Status, participants can pave their way to events such as the Regional Invitational and the U.S. Kids Golf Regional Championship, scheduled for later this year.
NCBA Group is a full-service banking group providing a broad range of financial products and services to corporate, institutional, SME, and consumer banking customers.
NCBA Group operates a network of more than 100 branches in five countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ivory Coast.
Serving over 60 million customers, the NCBA Group is the largest banking group in Africa by customer numbers.
The Bank is set to play a key role in supporting Africa and its economic ambitions and is a market leader in Corporate Banking, Asset Finance and Digital Banking.
ENDS;
