Jacob Murimi in action during the tournament.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The first edition of the Shujaa Memorial Parent and Child Golf Tournament concluded on Sunday 20^th 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”

Mary Kandu awarded at Nyali Golf and Country Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Mary Kandu put up a brilliant display to defend the Ladies Division One Title during the Nyali Golf & Country Club leg of the ongoing 2024 NCBA Golf Series.

The penultimate qualifying leg of the series saw the top male and female finishers in Divisions One and Two, the overall winner in Division Three, and the overall Junior winner book their slots for the final round of the 2024 series, which will be held at Muthaiga Golf Club on November 29.

The Nyali event attracted more than 200 golfers, all aiming to punch the much sought-after tickets to the grand finale.

Kandu, playing off handicap 12 then, won last year’s qualifying leg at the par 71 course on countback, fending off stiff competition from Trupena Oyaro to clinch the title.

However, it was not the case this time around as the handicap 11 home player picked a comfortable win after carding 36 points.

“The course was really good although we had some rain. It feels nice that I will be participating in the grand finale and playing against the elite golfers in the country and I look forward to playing at Muthaiga and I hope to win,” Kandu said.

It was not a smooth sail in the men’s division as Emmanuel Lumatete, playing off handicap 8 beat Aydan Jama (Handicap 12) on countback after both golfers returned 39 points.

“I attribute my win today to my four-ball which was very competitive. Golf is a game of mental strength, and I believe I played well from the first to the 18th hole. There is the finale to be played in Nairobi and I hope to emerge as the best of the best. This was a job well done by NCBA,” Lumatete said.

In Division Two, Elijah Ibua (Handicap (24) scored points to claim the men’s category while Faith Muteti’s (Handicap 18) 45 points were enough to seal her the top spot.

Jack Mureithi, playing off handicap 36 posted 45 points to emerge the overall winner in Division Three while David Kaguru won the junior category with 43 points off handicap 35.

Agnes Nyambura and Wangoru Kihara won the staff and guest categories after posting 33 and 38 points respectively.

So far, 100 golfers have already qualified based on their performance in previous events, including six from Uganda and three from Rwanda.

The Director Network Business and Distribution at NCBA, Dennis Njau stated: ” I want to take this chance to congratulate the winners for the day following their exemplary display on the course. Their hard work earned them the chance to play at the coveted 2024 NCBA Golf Series Grand Finale on November 29th at Muthaiga Golf Club. We wish them well and hope they will represent this great club well. The series has grown and this year we have spread our golfing wings around the region to cover Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda who will have representatives playing at the grand finale in Nairobi next month.”

The series takes a week’s break before heading to the Great Rift Valley Lodge for the final local qualifying leg on October 26th.