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

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.

By KGC CORRESPONDENT

TPC Twin Cities opened a little over two decades ago in Blaine, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis and St. Paul. It was there that renowned golfers Arnold Palmer and Tom Lehman, the latter a Minnesota native, turned what was once a sod farm into a haven for championship golf. The par-71, 7,431-yard links course, framed by grand oaks, spruce and pines, flows through the prairie and hilly terrain of the Minnesota countryside. Small lakes dot the layout.

The course had been a regular stop on the PGA Tour Champions since 2001, hosting the 3M Championship through 2018. With that event’s conclusion, TPC Twin Cities undertook renovations to prepare itself for its debut on the PGA Tour as host of the 3M Open in 2019. It was the first time a course had made that transition.

The “competitive enhancements” began just days after the 2018 Champions. Long, harsh Minnesota winters limited the timetable for the work. The renovations lengthened the layout to its current distance and narrowed it to up the difficulty. What once played as one of the Senior Tour’s easier courses increased in distance by over 400 yards.

Many of the changes affected TPC Twin Cities’ finishing holes. On the par-4 16th hole, rough was replaced with bentgrass, and bunkers were moved to narrow the hole. The par-3 17th hole received new tee boxes. The lake on the par-5 18th hole doubled in size, completely changing how players have to approach it. Extra room was built in to accommodate grandstands and hospitality, space that will be needed again at this year’s event.

TPC Twin Cities eases players in with a relatively short par-4 that offers plenty of birdie chances. At 593 yards, the par-5 sixth hole is a double dogleg leading to a wide putting green. The seventh hole, nicknamed “Tom’s Thumb,” is a 372-yard par-4, that could see some eagles, despite the new pushed-back tee. The ninth hole is a long par-4 at 489 yards, but tends to not play up to that distance thanks to the wind. The treacherous green slopes toward a lake on the right. The par-4 14th hole, measuring 415 yards, doglegs left around Cavner’s Cove.

“We want birdies and train wrecks,” as Hollis Cavner, the tournament’s executive director, said before the inaugural event. ”We feel very comfortable that this golf course is going to play hard and fast. It’s going to play long. If we get wind, it’s a game-changer.”

That generally wasn’t the case against its first PGA Tour field. Matthew Wolff shot 21-under for the event in just his third PGA Tour event as a professional. The exciting finish included two eagles. Bryson DeChambeau’s was followed by Wolff’s 26-foot eagle putt for the lead and the win. He bested DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa by just one stroke. The cut line was 4-under. Twelve players finished the weekend better than 15-under.

SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to seeing all the action from the PGA Tour’s 3M Open at the TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, Minneapolis from Thursday 22 to Sunday 23 July 2021.

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

The 2021 3M Open will see reigning champion Michael Thompson looking to put up a strong defence of his title. The 36-year-old American won last year’s event by two strokes from compatriot Adam Long.

Soon after winning the 2020 3M Open, Thompson and his wife welcomed their first child to the world, and the golfer is excited that he will have friends and family amongst the spectators who will be welcomed back to TPC Twin Cities this time around.

“Any time we have a great moment in our lives, we want to be able to share it with the ones we love the most, right? Not having them there was a bit sad, even though I had tears of joy for winning,” Thompson explained. “My family will be here, my daughter is now 15 months old and aware of what’s going on. It’ll be exciting to experience this tournament as a past champion and defending champion.”

He added, “I remember the first year being here, walking down 18 on Saturday it was just lined with people. I know the community here loves golf and they love coming out to support their favourite golfers and come and see some great golf. I’m excited to see what it’s going to be like this year, I think it’s going to be amped up just a little bit more.”

One of the main threats to Thompson’s title will come from world number two ranked Dustin Johnson. “We are thrilled with this early commitment and appreciate Dustin adding us to his summer schedule and we look forward to welcoming him back,” said 3M Open Executive Director Hollis Cavner.

Players who will be making their 3M Open debuts include Rickie Fowler, South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, and 2021 United States Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker.

“We look forward to tournament week and all of the positives that will come out of this great annual event that can provide so much for the community and the charitable partners this annual PGA TOUR tournament supports,” said tournament director Mike Welch.

TPC Twin Cities is a 7,164 yard par 72 course. The purse for the 3M Open is $6.6million.

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 3M Open broadcast details

All times CAT

Thursday 22 July

20:30: Day 1 – LIVE on SuperSport Grandstand and SuperSport Golf

Friday 23 July

20:30: Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Saturday 24 July

19:00: Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Sunday 25 July

19:00: Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf