Twelve-year-old Nathan Mwangi is presented with a category winner’s trophy by NCBA Group’s Chief of Staff, Louisa Wandabwa, at the Karen Country Club on August 24.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

A total of 39 junior golfers were on Tuesday feted as the two-day NCBA Golf Series junior invitational tournament ended. The thirty-nine formed the top-three finishers across thirteen player categories for the event, which had been organized according to the junior golfers’ ages.

Over 85 junior golfers took part in the tournament that had been jointly organized by NCBA Group, the Junior Golf Foundation, and the United States Kids Golf Association as part of the ongoing NCBA Golf Series which has now been played across 12 legs.

In the seven years-and-under category for girls, Ashley Gachora emerged the winner with a total of 88 points – having carded rounds of 45 and 43 points across the two-day event. Aarna Mengi and Irene Asiyo completed the podium places in second and third place with 99 and 133 points respectively.

In the eight-to-nine years category, Kanana Muthoni was crowned the winner with a total of 74 points. She finished ahead of Brianna Ngecu and Wamaitha Waithaka who finished second and third with 91 and 107 points respectively. 

In the ten-to-eleven years category, Aloe Cherono was the winner with a total of 176 points from the two days of golf, ahead of Nkini Pasha and Sophia Nesbitt who finished with 202 and 216 points to finish second and third respectively. 

Agamjot Kaur claimed the top spot in the 12-14 years’ category with 173 points ahead of Bianca Ngencu and Aaliyah Murray who posted 174 and 178 points to claim second and third place.

Fourteen-year-old Aaliyah Murray at the Karen Country Club on round two of the 2021 NCBA Golf Series Junior Tournament on August 24.

In the boys’ categories, Javier Maroko emerged the winner in the six years and under category with 84 points having carded rounds of 43 and 41 points. He finished ahead of Zayn Bhatti and Aaran Das Gupta who carded rounds of 107 and 110 respectively to complete the podium places.  

Alambir Singh, Adam Nesbitt and Jayden Maroko claimed top places in the seven-, eight- and nine-year categories with 116, 93 and 177 points respectively. In the ten-years category, Mwathi Gicheru claimed the top spot with 160 points as Shashwat Hanish claimed victory in the 11-year-olds’ category with 151 points. 

Meanwhile, twelve-year-old, Nathan Mwangi, winner of the Karen leg of the NCBA Golf Series in July this year, emerged winner in the 12-year-olds category with 171 points. In the 13-to-14-year-olds’ category, Ishan Samani was crowned the winner with 157 points as Krish Beiju took the top spot in the 15-to-18-year-olds’ category. 

The event was the twelfth in the NCBA Golf Series calendar which heads to the Machakos Golf Club this weekend. Speaking at the Karen Country Club after the event, NCBA Group Chief of Staff, Louisa Wandabwa, said that adding the event to the NCBA Golf Series calendar was a natural fit.

“Increasingly, we see the junior golf series as an opportunity for us to invest, not only in the current game of golf, but also in the future game of golf as part brand pro is to inspire greatness. The opportunity for these junior golfers to play at either Rome or South Africa after excelling at this event proves to the juniors that regardless of where they are from, if they have talent and continue to invest in the skill, they can play on the world stage.”

Speaking at the same function, US Kids Golf Foundation Director for Africa, Nicholas Geerts, said he was encouraged by the showcase of talent at the two-day event, noting that there is promise in the future of the sport in the country.

“I am extremely impressed by the golf I have seen here today over the last two days. The level of golf has really improved among the junior players and goes to confirm that there’s progress in the development of the sport in the country.” 

A select number of young golfers from today’s event will get a chance to play at the Rome Classic, which is taking place this October, and at the Big 5 tournament in South Africa next year once scores have been officially ratified. 

Michael Ngene while receiving his scholarship award at Muthaiga Golf Club today.

By THE BUDDY
Michael Ngene Wanjiku, an administrator at Kenya Golf Union is the scholarship award winner of the Dream Together Masters Program 2021-2023.
The award will give the 29-year-old Ngene an opportunity to study a Masters Degree in Global Sport Management at Seoul National University, in the Republic of Korea.
The Dream Together Program offers full scholarship and provides a curriculum embracing a range of topics in sports to help students reach their full potential.
“The journey started years back at Riara Primary school to Kijabe Boys secondary school after which I qualified to undertake a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Sports Management at Kenyatta University,” said Mr. Ngene during the award ceremony that took place this afternoon at Muthaiga Golf Club.
“I am so grateful to my family, Kenya Golf Union and Olympics Kenya for this opportunity, I am nervous but excited that I will be flying the Kenyan flag in a foreign country,” he added as we caught up with him on his final preparations handing over his administrative duties at the KGU secretariat in preparation to head out to Seoul.
This will be the first time a Kenyan will be taking part in the program that has been running for 8 years.
Olympics Kenya Ag. Secretary General, Francis Mutuku, explaining the scholarship process said, “Ngene was among seven Kenyans who applied for the scholarship, and he was one of the two top candidates who were competitively selected by the Education Commission of Olympics Kenya and their profiles forwarded to Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).”

Scholarship Award presentation to Michael Ngene (second left) in the presence of, from left, Former KLGU Chairlady- June Waweru, KGU Hon. Secretary Philip Ochola, KGU Vice Chairman George Gathu, NOCK Ag

“The scholarship process was very elaborate, with applications received by ANOC from all 205 nations. His outstanding profile, a demonstrated passion in sports administration, in his role especially in running the amateur golf league in Kenya, coupled with his outstanding education abilities made him a qualified candidate for the Masters program,” he said.
He is one among 10 other candidates from across the world who will join Seoul National University for the two-year program starting this fall.
The Kenya Golf Union Chief Executive Officer Vincent Wang’ombe praised Michael as the best candidate for the opportunity and encouraged citizens to participate in sports including golf.
“I am so happy for Michael and convinced that he is able to take the course and will be able to transform sports in future after completing the studies. Michael is a golfer, has worked with top golfers, therefore understands what it takes to play at that high level. As KGU we’d like to build capacity of our institution, we’d want to learn from Korea, from their excelling women and junior golf program, and how we can borrow the same for our country,” he said.
Philip Ochola, the Honorable Secretary of KGU mentioned that, “Our aim is to get to the Olympics, be one of the top countries in golf, we are aiming for LA 2028.”
“KGU has already started on this pathway with a vibrant junior golf running in the country as we target to develop youngsters,” he added.
With most programs having resumed after the coronavirus pandemic interruption, the Executive of Olympics Kenya is keen to seek more of such opportunities, and more will be rolled out in the coming months.
Mutuku mentioned that capacity building is one of the main objectives of the NOC-K Executive, to develop technical and administrative expertise in Kenya and that in the near future, Olympics Kenya expects to have a strong network of active sports professionals that extends across the country, to promote sport development in Kenya.