FATHER AND SON BHUPINDER REEL AND JOVEN REEL TEAM UP TO WIN SHUJAA KAVORE MEMORIAL PARENT AND CHILD TOURNAMENT
By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS
The first edition of the Shujaa Memorial Parent and Child Golf Tournament concluded on Sunday 20th October at the Muthaiga Golf Club after an impressive turnout in the tournament that encourages parents to team up with their children for a round of golf. Registration closed two weeks before the tournament as it was over-subscribed with more than 257 entries.
Muthaiga Golf Club’s Team Reel of Dr.Bhupinder Reel and his son, 12-year-old Joven Reel who plays in the US Kids Tour emerged the winners with 38 points followed by the team of George Wainaina and Abby Wainaina with 35 points, and Murimi Gatu and Robert Gatu also with 35 points.
The Junior Girls winner with 42 points was Kanana Muthomi, followed by Princess Thai Kavore with 37 points.
Joven Reel won the Junior boys category with 46 points.
The tournament in memory of Shujaa Kariuki Kavore, who holds the record of the youngest hole-in-one player at Muthaiga Golf Club. The game is also used to raise awareness of chronic children’s diseases.
Brianna Ngechu 12-13 years category observed that “my experience was good even though I didn’t play that well, me and my dad pushed until the end and we had fun together. I find playing with my dad fun, even though we argue on the course as players, we still always manage to have fun together.”
One of the parents, Simon Kago said “It was an amazing time playing with my daughter, it is so important to play with her, to bond, I would rather spend an afternoon on the course with her to know each other more than we go for a 30-minute lunch. The time spent playing golf is amazing. The juniors are amazing, we had a competition, my daughter Brianna against Simaloi Mbeya and her dad Peter Brooks. They actually beat us, the children’s skills are getting better, more horned and prepared to play tournaments, and tournaments like this are what makes it special”
Simaloi Mbeya, 13-14 years category said “When I’m playing with my dad, I feel like we are playing for the fun of it, we joke around and get to enjoy the game, and it is very nice to add to your relationship with your parent”
“When shujaa did a hole-in-one, it encouraged more golfers to achieve more things in golf to get ahead”
“I have played with Shujaa a few times, and when he got a hole-in-one in hole five which is a tricky hole, it inspired me to get better as he got a hole in one in hole five which is a tricky hole that I hope to get a hole-in-one also one day,” added 13 years old Justin Ngeera.
Shujaa’s father, Kavore Kariuki played alongside his daughter, Princess Kavore who finished second behind Kanana Muthomi in the Junior girls’ category
Princess Thai Kavore, 11 years old “Shujaa inspired me to play golf by helping me go to the range and helping me improve my swing so that I can be a good golfer”