By DANIELLA APIYO

At 17 years, Mathew Wahome is set to become the youngest golfer ever to feature at the prestigious Kenya Open Golf Championships, when the tournament tees of at the par 70 Karen Golf and Country Club between April 9 and 12.

Wahome who has been playing his golf at the Nyali Golf and Country Club and Mombasa Golf Club, qualified for the Kenya Open action by virtue of being crowned the Junior Golfer of the Year last year. He currently plays his golf at the Rodenbosch Golf Club, after he recently joined Rosebank College in Cape Town.

Despite being part of the European Tour where some of the best golfers in the world will be in action, Wahome is confident of a good show and believes he would not crack under pressure or feel inferior playing alongside some of the best and experienced players in the business.

“ Since I just started college in January, currently I go the range only twice a week after college and plays two rounds of nine-holes twice a week,” said Wahome.

He added: “I have never had a coach, I practice alone and hit about 100 balls when on the range and I’m sure I will be in a great shape by the time Kenya Open tees off.”

The former Mombasa Academy student who started playing golf aged eight years after being influenced by his elder brother Jeremy, currently plays off handicap 0.6 and boasts of a number of major titles at only 17 years.

One of his major victory is last year’s 95^th anniversary of the prestigious Barry Cup where he beat favourite and eventual Golfer of The Year John Karichu to the second position. The win saw him become the youngest player to win the coveted Barry Cup and his score of two under is the best in the history of the tournament.

He was also part of the national team in 2012 when Kenya won the East African Challenge in Burindi and also represented the country during the All Africa Junior Golf Championship in Mauritius in 2013 where Kenya finished fifth out of 12 participating countries.

“I have played on the Karen course many times, some of the notable occasions are during last the 2013 Karen Challenge which was a GOTY event and during last year’s world amateur golf ranking competition (WAGR), so it will not be a new challenge for me,” said the player who has also won accolades in swimming.

He added: “I will have to rely on my inner strength of mind and my skills on the course. I will absolutely not be under any pressure.”

This year’s Open will have 156 players consisting of both local amateurs and professionals. The year’s prize money for the championship is Sh20 million ( €200,000) with the winner expected to pocket Sh3.2 million (€32,000). Prior to the international tourney, Karen club will host two ProAm events on April 7 and 8.

Mathew Wahome’s fact file:

Name: Matthew Wahome

DOB: November 19, 1997
Handicap: 0.6

Parents: Alice and Martin Wahome

Siblings: Jeremy (HC 4), Andrew (HC 27) cheap air max 90 mens cheap air max 90 mens

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