Youngsters Gatu, Shah, best juniors at Safaricom Golf Tour in Karen, Nairobi
Sponsored by Safaricom
Safaricom Golf Tour Karen Junior edition overall winners Rohini Shah (left) and Muriithi Gatu at Karen Country Club, Nairobi.
By Larry Ngala
The seventh leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour series wound up at the par 72 Karen Country Club with a colourful junior event, which also doubled up as part of Kenya’s US Kids Golf Tour.
And emerging as the overall winners were Limuru Country Club’s nine-year-old Muriithi Gatu and Vet Lab Sports Club’s Rohini Shah, 12.
Gatu, a Grade Four pupil at Thika Road Christian School, carded an impressive score of 39 gross in the nine-hole section, to emerge the best boy.
Year Seven pupil Rohini from Peponi House Preparatory School fired 77 gross to emerge the best girl overall. “I liked the experience today as it was pretty unique playing with many different junior golfers. I appreciate Safaricom and US Kids Golf Tour for organising such a fantastic junior event. My game today was one of the best. My first nine was good, where I scored a par twice, an eagle and a birdie, that made me win the tournament,” said Rohini.
Taking the boys’ 15-18 years title was Asa Dinkins, with a gross of 81, ahead of Dhruv Kavia, who scored 87. Winning the girls 15 years and over category was Antonia Mbuthia with 103. Playing in the boys' category 13-14 years, Nathan Caralon produced 82 gross to lead his group after a play-off with Junaid Manji, who had also garnered 82.
In the girls’ category of 13-14 years, Maryam Mwakitawa fired 86 gross to finish ahead of his closest challenger Navya Nagda, on 123 gross.
Elsewhere, Justin Ngeera continued to dominate the 11 years boys' category after scoring a gross of 85. In the nine to 10 years old girls’ category, Kanana Muthomi was in her best form, as she produced 44 gross to emerge winner.
Other top scores were posted by Ashley Gachora in the girls’ eight years and under category, with 44 gross, and Jeff Kibe emerged the winner in the boys’ seven years category with 59 points.
The event attracted a field of 123 junior golfers, and 60 juniors turned up for the starters golf clinic held at the same facility.
