Peponi student wins Kenyatta University charity golf

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY GOLF Peponi School student Jason Kariuki in action at Muthaiga. [PHOTO: ERICK OCHIENG'/STANDARD]

Jason Kariuki, 16, emerged the overall winner of the inaugural Kenyatta University Annual Charity Golf tournament held at the par 72 Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi at the weekend.

Kariuki fired 23 points in the front nine and 17 in the back nine to lift the two-day championship with 40 stableford points.

The year 12 student at Peponi School in Nairobi attributed the win to able coaching he has been receiving from his father, James Anthony Kariuki, who is also his mentor.

“Through consistent coaching, my father has given me the confidence to be a warrior on the course. That is why I did not fear even while playing against elite and veteran players at the course today,” said Kariuki during his acceptance speech.

Kariuki also attributed the grand win to the conducive weather and the pristine course at Muthaiga, which is his home club.

In order to be better in the game, Anthony has contracted the services of national team player Nelson Mudanyi, who is currently taking Kariuki through various golf techniques and paces while aiming for global championships.

“Through Mudanyi, I am hopeful that next year or possibly in the coming years I will be able to qualify for the Kenya Open championship like Nyali golfer Matthew Wahome who is based in South Africa,” said Kariuki.

The weekend win was a major victory for Kariuki who also managed to slash down his handicap from 17 to 15.

Anthony, who has represented Kenya in international golf championship including being the South African Golf Ambassador in 2010, hinted out that he has already secured good training on golf for his son in the United States.

Kenyatta University Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Wangari Mwai, said the tournament was meant to raise money to support Orphans and Vulnerable Students (OVS) at the institutions.

“We realised there are bright but very needy students who, even with the loan from HELB, can still not make ends meet at the university, especially those orphaned and vulnerable who have no one to support and their families are too poor to chip in,” noted Mwai.

Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Wainaina noted that out of the 71,000 students at the institutions, 3,000 are OVS.