Junior golfers in Kenya have asked for more inter-school tournaments to be organized for them to attract more competition for the ongoing US Kids Golf series.

The inaugural of three inter-school tournaments was held on Friday at the Windsor Golf and Country club in Nairobi County with up to 20 schools represented.

“It was so much fun. I didn’t know there were so many junior golfers because not many of them signed up for the US Kids golf series, so seeing close to 20 schools represented was very interesting,” said Hazel Kuria from Rosslyn school.

Hazel finished second in the girls and boys 15-18 years category in the US Kids Golf series.

“I think it depends with your school if they play golf or not, but if you play golf just make the school aware, tell them that the tournaments are happening and get yourself involved, because golf is the best way to first gain new friends and also help with the future,” she added.

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Hazel played 90 points to finished third overall and two days later she played 87 to clinch the same category for girls, making a three-point improvement.

“First nine I struggled with my putting, I was three-putting a lot of my three putter-five putter putts, it wasn’t the best round. But second nine I woke up, I finished with I think six-seven pars. The drives were good, it was just around the greens that I was struggling,” Hazel noted.

Playing in the girls 11-12 years category, Mary Nyambura carded a surprise 89 strokes to top the category, three shots ahead of Malaika Kasio, who missed a chance to play at the inter-schools’ tournament.

Yuvraj Raj[ut. PHOTO/COURTESY


“Unfortunately, my school (Rose of Sharon Academy) has not yet built a team but I hope in future we will. Some of my friends would like to join golf and they want to start soon,” Mary said.

She added, “My competition was good and I enjoyed the course a lot. Today was my first time here and I think I played well. I did my best and was confident I would do well.”

Series sponsors NCBA Group returned after seeing major improvements in the last season with Group Assistant Marketing Director Jackie Muhatia lauding the players and organisers.

Imani Njoki. PHOTO/COURTESY

“The faces that you see in the national team that has been selected definitely did participate in our events. Seeing a cross section of juniors across both the handicapped and non-handicapped players getting interested in the game is quiet encouraging,” Jackie intimated.

She added, “We witnessed excitement among the schools in playing against each other. We are seeing a lot more interest, a lot more investment coming through and this is as a result of the collaboration that is coming through from all the partners.”

Amon Hinrichs. PHOTO/COURTESY

The young golfers spoke after the fourth leg of the 2023 US Kids Golf Spring Local Tour at the 18-hole of the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club in Nairobi.

144 junior golfers ranging from age 5 to 18 took part in the competition.

Cherise Wachira. PHOTO/COURTESY

Similarly, Mwathi Gicheru won in the 12-year-olds category with 76 strokes to trounce Aidan Gachora, who finished second and Andrew Gathere who carded in third position.

Amar Shah won in the 11-year-olds category with 73 strokes, followed by Kahir Ladak and Alpha Ndungu, while in the 13-14-year-old category, Imani Njoki won with 99 strokes as Navya Nagda and Hena Shah followed in second and third positions respectively.