Leo Zurovac of Vet Lab Golf Club receives the winner’s trophy from Crown Paint’s Marketing Executive Janet Githinji at Muthainga Golf Club today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Vet Lab Sports Club’s Leo Zurovac today completed an impressive fiver over par 289 gross at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course, to clinch the overall title 2021 Crown Paints sponsored Kenya Junior Stroke Play golf championship.

During the final round, the handicap two Zurovac shot three over par, in a round that included 14 pars and one birdie, having earlier shot 74, 66, and 75 for his 72-hole grand total.

The 17 year- old Zurovac currently attending the Jason Floyd Academy in Spain and who also recently won the Croatian National Championship with some impressive scores of 75, 73, 67 and 69 for four under par total, said he enjoyed playing on the beautiful Muthaiga course which he said was in great condition at the moment.

Ï want to thank Muthaiga golf club for keeping the course in good shape. I am also grateful to play with some excellent players who kept on encouraging me, but more or would like to appreciate the sponsors Crown Paints for sponsoring the tournament which is very important for us juniors, and finally would like to thank my parents for their great support’’ said Zurovac who said would like to play more events before going back to school.

Emerging the overall winner in the Girls section was Belinda Wanjiru who also shot an impressive total of 355 gross made up of 89, 87, 89 and 90. “I am happy with my scores except for the final round which denied a better aggregate, but I will keep on practising for a better score next time’’ said Wanjiru. The overall nett title went to Shiro Murray with rounds of 67, 68, 73, and 71 for nett 279.

Wanjiru Murray of Great Rift Naivasha with her trophy at Muthaiga Golf Club today.

Winning the 19 to 21 category was another Vet Lab player Chrispine Owuor on 310 gross, winning ahead of Thika Sports Club’s Dennis Gakuo oin324 and third placed Derrick Gitau who carded 344 gross. South Africa based Andrew Wahome, a member of Nyali Golf and Country Club here at home, fired 309 gross to win the 15 to 18- year division ahead of Lee Kimathi of Windsor on 320. Shakkur Adams was third on 323.

In the 12 to 14 division, Jelani Kihanya produced 349 groiss to win ahead of home player Junaid Manji carded 354 to take home the runner up prize with Ishan Samani finishing third on 356 gross. And finally in the 10 to 11- year division, Royal Nairobi Mwathi Gicheru who has been enjoying a great form lately, shot gross 370 to win ahead of Shashwat Harish on386 and third placed Mitansh Thacker who posted 400 gross.

Speaking during the prize giving ceremony, Linnet Kendi, a Business Development Executive at Crown Paints said the company was happy to have been approached to sponsor the junior golf tournament. Speaking on behalf of Crown Paints CEO Rakesh Rao currently out of the country, Kendi said Crown Paints has been involved in the sponsorship of tournament for eight years now.

“Crown Paints will continue supporting junior golf because we believe this is the best way to nurture talent and eventually at the long run be able to produce good players who can represent Kenya in the Kenya Open and other international events. Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) vice president Nancy Ikinu thanked Muthaiga Golf Club for giving the juniors the course to play for three days, and the trustees who made up the competition committee who doing an excellent of putting together the event which attracted 56 players.

Dustin Johnson of the US in action on the fifteenth hole during the 2nd round of The Open 2021 golf championship at Royal St George’s golf course in Sandwich, Kent, Britain, 16 July 2021. EPA/NEIL HALL

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to seeing all the action from the PGA Tour’s WGC-Fedex St. Jude International at the TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee from Thursday August 5 to Sunday August 8, 2021.

SuperSport is the ultimate destination for Golf fans, with an unparalleled selection of action from around the world.

This year marks the 23rd WGC Invitational event and will see reigning champion Justin Thomas looking to defend his crown. The 28-year-old American claimed the 2020 title by three strokes ahead of Daniel Berger, Brooks Koepka, Tom Lewis and Phil Mickelson for his second WGC-Fedex St. Jude International triumph.

Thomas says that the great Tiger Woods – who has won a record eight WGC-Fedex St. Jude International titles but will not be present at this year’s edition – is always giving him advice, something that is sure to continue this week.

“Many times I’ll hit a bad shot or miss a short putt and he’s [Woods] the first person I get something from. He keeps me humble and I think that’s why we have the friendship that we do,” said Thomas.

Former world number one Dustin Johnson will also be present, with the 37-year-old feeling like he is not far away from returning to his best: “Things are starting to turn around a little bit. I felt like I haven’t had a great season so far, but I feel like the game, it’s starting to come back into form,” he said. “I feel like the iron and wedge play is what I just haven’t been as sharp with. That’s starting to come around.”

The field will also include The Open Championship winner Collin Morikawa, who recently became the first player to win two different majors in his first attempt and joined Tiger Woods as the only players to win The Open and PGA Championship before age 25.

Rory McIlroy will also be present at the WGC-Fedex St. Jude International, while US Open champion Jon Rahm withdrew to ensure he was focused on his bid for glory at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, only to then return a positive Covid-19 test and be unable to compete.

TPC Southwind is a 7,244 yard par 70 course. The purse for the WGC-Fedex St. Jude International is $10.5million.

No rival can compete with SuperSport’s coverage. Our viewers on DStv can see all their favourite golf stars dominating courses across the world. Visit www.dstv.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can stream matches on the DStv App.

PGA Tour WGC-Fedex St. Jude International broadcast details:

All times CAT

Thursday 5 August

18:00: Day 1 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Friday 6 August

18:00: Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Saturday 7 August

18:00: Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Sunday 8 August

18:00: Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf