Junior golfers ask for more Inter-School tournaments

After playing in the first edition of the inter-schools tournament at the 18-hole Windsor Golf and Country Club last weekend, Kenya’s junior golfers have asked organizers for more such-like tournaments that can attract competition for their participation in the US Kids Golf Series.

Over 20 schools were represented in the fourth leg of the 2023 U.S. Kids Golf Spring Local Tour with 144 junior golfers ranging from 5 to 18 years old competing.

“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,” Hazel Kuria from Rosslyn school said after the event. “I think it depends on 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.”

Kuria, who finished second in the girls and boys 15-18 years category, played 90 to finish third overall. Two days later on the same course, Kuria played 87 to win the same category for girls, an improvement by three shots.

“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 on the 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,” she observed.

For Mary Nyambura in the girls 11-12 years category, playing at Windsor for the first time was scary. But she surprised herself with 89 strokes to win the category, three shots ahead of Malaika Kasio who missed the opportunity to play at the inter schools’ tournament.

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

On her performance, she said: “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 NCB Group are back after seeing growth in the last season. Assistant Marketing Director Jackie Muhatia said the tournaments are bearing fruit from what is happening in the events.

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

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On the schools’ tournament she said: “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.”

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In some of the results, Mwathi Gicheru was in a class of his own to win the 12-year-old category with 76 strokes. He beat Aidan Gachora who finished second, with Andrew Gathere in third position.

“I was striking the ball pretty well, it is just working on the direction using my drives and irons," Mwathi said. “Even if I didn’t win, I would have had the confidence, but this win brings me more confidence. So I'm excited for the next one in Sigona and I hope to play well.”

Amar Shah was the winner in the 11-year-old category with 73 strokes, followed by Kahir Ladak and Alpha Ndungu.

In the 13-14-year-old category, Imani Njoki won with 99 strokes, with Navya Nagda in second and Hena Shah in third.