• “The course is in great shape. The greens are fast, fairways lush and I believe the juniors will enjoy,” Wangai said.
• The Junior Matchplay Championship is an invitational event for all handicapped juniors aged 21 and under.
Image: HANDOUT
Its all systems go as the four-day 2022 Kenya Junior Matchplay Championship tees off at the par 72 Sigona Golf Club coursethis morning.
Among the top players enlisted for the event are Stephen Orinda, who will tee it up in the company of Joshua Maina at 8:10am.
Kenneth Muraya, Kelvin Maina and Leon Mutinda will tee it up at 9:10am followed by Shane Murugu, Peter Ngiri and Mumbi Gatu at 9.20 am.
Notable absentee is Karen Challenge champion Njoroge Kibugu, who is reportedly off to the United States of America for studies.
Sigona’s resident pro CJ Wangai has promised the Juniors a great golfing experience.
“The course is in great shape. The greens are fast, fairways lush and I believe the juniors will enjoy,” Wangai said.
The Junior Matchplay Championship is an invitational event for all handicapped juniors aged 21 and under.
The Championship is open to a maximum of 156 players for the 18-hole qualifying round on Day 1.
Interestingly, caddies and ride-on golf buggies are not permitted. Each player is required to carry his or own her bag or use a trolley as allowed by the club.
Meanwhile, Junior Golf Foundation (Kenya) has been named as one of the beneficiaries of one container load of golf balls donated by the DP world Tour.
As part of its commitment to help grow the sport globally and drive positive community impact, DP World has collected used balls from tournaments across the DP World Tour this season.
DP World has partnered with five organisations around the world, who will receive the balls at the end of the season.
These are: Junior Golf Foundation (Kenya), South African Disabled Golf Association (SADGA), European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA), The Golf Foundation (India) and an all-female golfing group in the UAE, Chicks with Sticks.
DP World has leveraged its logistics and supply chain expertise to collect the used golf balls and transport them around the world in a bespoke shipping container.
Daniel van Otterdijk, Chief Communications Officer of Group Communications at DP World, said: “Through our sponsorship of the DP World Tour, we wanted to find both a meaningful and memorable way to give back to the sport. This initiative is a great way for DP World to showcase our logistics and supply chain capabilities and expertise.”
“By distributing the golf balls to the organisations that need them most, we are supporting initiatives that help to share the joy of playing golf.
We look forward to hearing about how the balls have been used to grow the game around the world.”
Regina Gachora, President of Junior Golf Foundation said: “This sponsorship comes at an opportune time when JGF is in the process of
demystifying golf and establishing it in ‘mashinani’ (grassroots). We will distribute the balls to all golf clubs for the support of junior golf programs and also to juniors who cannot afford golf balls.”
Kenya Junior Matchplay Championship
Strokeplay Draw, September 19
TEE 1
8:00am Elvis Muigua , Emmanuel Njugu
8:10am Joshua Maina, Stephen Orinda
8:20am Lee Kimathi, Ngondo Kimemia, Trevor Ngotho
8:30am Ali Khimji, John Wambari, Karanja Waweru
8:40am John Mbagi, Derrick Gitau, Peter Waiharo
8:50am Ryan Mutinda, Kevin Anyien, Cherise Wachira
9:00am Waithaka Mwangi, Kiunjuri Mathu, Antonia Mbuthia
9:10am Kenneth Muraya, Kelvin Maina, Leon Mutinda
9:20am Shane Murugu, Peter Ngiri, Mumbi Gatu
9:30am Peter Gathogo, Amar Shah, Alex Kivi
9:40am Karoki Mathu, Aaditya Tiwari, Nicholas Irungu
9:50am Muriithi Gatu, Niel Kabora, Pendo Sang