NEW KGU BOSS OKWARA PROMISES TO SUPPORT JUNIOR GOLF
Francis Okwara (centre) in a past function.
By CORRESPONDENT
Newly elected Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman Francis Okwara has said he would be biased on Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) to ensure that talent in the sport is tapped at an early age.
Okwara was speaking at the Muthaiga Golf Club after being elected the new boss of the federation during the Union’s Annual General Meeting on Friday.
“The new office is committed to take golf to the next level and I am confident we will succeed. We will concentrate on the sport and put our eyes firm on the ball to see that the sport progresses,” said Okwara who replaced Alfred Kariuki at the helm.
He added: “We will have a bias on junior golf to ensure that we move golf to the levels of South Africa, European and PGA standards. I am also challenging the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) to start developing lady golfers from the junior ranks to keep up the pace with us.”
Outgoing chairman Kariuki thanked all clubs for supporting him through his tenure and said he had confidence in his successor Okwara to continue with development programs of the union.
He outlined that he will oversee devolution of junior golf development through appointing junior golf regional representatives in the Coastal region, North Rift Region, Central Rift Region, Mt Kenya Region and Western region. He also promised to work with golf clubs, schools, corporate bodies, parents and children in development of the game of golf to another level.
Peter Warui will be the Vice Chairman, while Anthony Mburu will be the Secretary General and Richard Wanjala is the treasurer.
The regional representatives for the Mt Kenya Region, Western, North Rift and Coast Region will nominated during the first executive meeting to be held later next week.
During the Chairman’s Prize tournament held to grace the occasion at the same venue, Windsor’s handicap 20 Hashim Khan who posted 43 stableford points to emerge the overall winner. Anthony Muhoro beat Tom Indimuli and E Sorobea on countback to settle for the runner-up posisition on 39 points.
Indimuli was third on 39 points and Sorobea finished fourth with a similar score. June Waweru was the lady winner on 35 points, while Steve Njukia won the men’s longest drive and ladies national team player Jane Njoroge won the ladies longest drive.
Don Mwaura had the nearest to the pin.
KGU new officials:
Chairman – Francis Amutabi Okwara
Vice Chairman – Peter Ngundo Warui
Hon. Secretary – Anthony Muhoro
Hon. Treasurer -Richard Nyongesa Wanjalla
Executives
Stephen Muchau Githiaka (Vet Lab)
Peter Wartnaby (Windsor Golf and Country Club)
Anthony Murage (Karen Golf and Country Club)
Paul Murumba (Kiambu Golf Club)
Patrick Karanja (Thika Sports Club)
Lucas Maranga (Limuru Golf and Country Club) doudouneparka doudouneparka