NAIROBI, Kenya, April 1 – Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) president Regina Gachora is optimistic more junior golfers will get an opportunity to showcase their talent and reach the pinnacle of their careers courtesy of the Interschool Golf Tournament.
The first leg of the tournament was held on Friday at the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club and Gachora believes that the competition, being staged in partnership with NCBA Bank, will unearth many talents who will go on to reign in major competitions, such as the Magical Kenya Open.
“Today is the first interschools tournament that we have done for non-handicapped children. We have had a handicapped tournament that has been going on for years. Our aim is to get junior golfers to start playing at a very young age through the schools system and through this we believe we will discover our next champions,” Gachora said.
NCBA has pumped in Ksh 7 million to spur the growth of golf at the grassroots and Gachora remarks that this is the perfect anecdote to moulding the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroys of the future.
“We are very excited because we have had juniors who are coming from kindergarten all the way to high school…who are participating in this tournament. We are very encouraged and happy that NCBA have come on board as our sponsors for this tournament. This shows they are very committed to the development of golf from a very young age,” Gachora said.
She added: “I know they are also interested in coming on board for university golf and this is the pathway we want to use to develop the next elite golfer, next Magical Kenya Open champion and the next Olympian who will be playing golf for Kenya.”
Speaking at the same time, NCBA group director for marketing, communication and citizenship, Nelly Wainaina, reiterated the bank’s desire to help open up golf to as many young Kenyans as possible.
“At NCBA, we inspire greatness and so this tournament is one way of getting the game from good to best. As the kids swing away, we are also looking to invest in the future to see even more professionals playing this sport. If you look at the number of golfers in Kenya, it is 8,000 and that is very low compared to a game like soccer or athletics. That is because we know what these games entail including the practice and the endurance,” Wainaina said.
She added: “It first starts with education and not only that it is expensive. The most important thing is to understand the game of golf. What we will be looking to do is democratise it to make it affordable and accessible.”
Wainaina further expressed her satisfaction with the attendance at the tournament, noting that the thirst for golf among juniors is intense.
“On average, at least in today’s tournament, we have seen around 140 kids. Amazing…from different schools. Of course, each one will be expected to compete and end up in one regional final, which will be in December. Again, we are looking to see more kids competing across the country and even outside,” she explained.
The event attracted junior golfers drawn from twenty schools around Nairobi and its environs, including Kiota School, Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi, Limuru Children’s Centre, Braeside Primary School, Kenton College, Rosslyn Academy, Braeburn School- Gitanga Road, Premier Academy, Oshwal Junior High, Braeburn Garden Estate, St. Austen’s Academy, St. Ruth School, Makini Cambridge, Light Academy, Swedish School Association, Crawford International School, Montessori Learning Centre – Prep, Nova Pioneer, Garden Brook School and Raeburn Secondary School.
In the 10 Years and under category, Kenton College emerged as the champions after posting a total of 116 points gross.
Coming in second was Braeside Primary School which scored 145 gross points. They were followed by Montessori Learning Centre which managed 151 gross points.
Meanwhile, Premier Academy claimed bragging rights in the 11-14 year olds category, having managed 234 gross points.
They were followed by Kenton College who managed a total cumulative of 249 gross points.
Rosslyn Academy claimed the third position having scored a cumulative total of 257 gross points.
Among the 15-18 year olds category, with a cumulative gross total of 237, Rosslyn Academy and Crawford International School claimed the second and third positions having scored 243 and 286 cumulative gross points respectively.
The next Interschool Golf Tournament event will be held on May 26 at the same venue.
