JUNIOR GOLF, MWANGI, STUNS LARGE FIELD TO WIN KAREN LEG OF NCBA GOLF SERIES

Kenya Golf Guide

Twelve-Year-Old Nathan Mwangi (left) receives the Junior Winner trophy of the Karen Country Club leg of the 2021 NCBA Golf Series.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Twelve-year-old junior golfer, Nathan Mwangi, stunned the Karen Country Club field during the Club’s leg of the 2021 NCBA Golf Series at the weekend with a superb haul of 47 points to emerge as the event’s overall winner.

Playing alongside Philip Wahome, Samuel Gatura, and Gary Asige, Nathan made history as the Series’ first-ever junior winner and booked his place at the Series’ finale, which will be played at Karen in December this year.

For the win, which comes a month to the Series’ Junior Golf tournament that will also be held at the Karen Country Club, he also gets an automatic slot to play at the junior tournament, which will be held from August 23 to August 24, 2021.

Nathan’s outstanding performance saw him claim the overall win, five points ahead of Ken Ombati, who carded 42 points to be crowned winner in the men’s category on countback.

In the ladies’ category, Akinyi Gitonga claimed top honours on countback after carding a round of 38 points, ahead of Louisa Gitau, who finished the day as Category runners-up with 38 points.

Claiming top honours in the nines were Kithinji Kiragu, who won best first nine on countback with 22 points, and Richard Thande, who took top honours in the second nine with 24 points

Kenya Golf Guide

Junior Golfer Nathan Mwangi in action at the Karen Country Club onn Saturday for the Club’s leg of the 2021 NCBA Golf Series.

In the longest drive competition, Ronald Mwenesi was crowned winner in the men’s category, while Louisa Gitau claimed her second award of the day in the ladies event.

George Ndegwa won the nearest-to-the-pin award, while NCBA’s Digital Business Chief Operating officer, James Mugo, was crowned staff winner with 37 points. The tournament’s overall winner, Nathan Mwangi, also took home the junior winner award for his stellar performance.

Speaking after the event, Nathan said he looks forward to defending his win next year when the Series returns to the Karen Country Club.

“I am honoured to be receiving this award. I thank the sponsor for this event as well as my four-ball for their encouragement and company. I hope to come and defend my title next year,” he said.

At the same event, Karen Country Club Captain, Gilbert Maina, said: “Karen is a championship course having hosted several European Tour events. It is one of Africa’s top-rated courses and therefore is a privilege to host a brand like NCBA for this Series.”

Commenting on the event, NCBA Group Director for Retail Banking, Tirus Mwithiga, said:

“We had over 170 players here today, and collectively we have seen excellent turnouts in every one of the events that we have held, and so we are pleased about how today has gone.

“Karen is a club that we have been associated with for many years; we are pleased with the way they welcome us. Today we had our Series here, which will be followed by a junior tournament later on in August and then the grand finale in December.”

Commenting on the forthcoming Junior Tournament in August, Tirus said the format would include having a golf clinic for juniors, followed by a junior golf tournament at the Karen Country Club.

“We have invited juniors across Kenya to participate at the event. They will receive some training through a golf clinic while those already playing will have some competition to participate and measure their skills against others. The idea of it is to encourage our juniors to take up the sport with the hope that someday, one of our own will win the global events which are held here in Kenya,” he said.

He encouraged golf clubs to make more provisions for junior golfers to play to nurture their skills early.

The Karen event was the ninth tournament in the 2021 NCBA Golf Series; action will shift to the Kiambu Golf Club in a fortnight for the tenth event.

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