Junior golfers set for battle at Nyali course

Junior golfer Mwai Mariga in past action. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Over 60 junior golfers will be fighting for supremacy in the final of this year’s Nyali Golf and Country club’s Junior golf series at the club’s par 71 course in Mombasa County at the weekend.

This will be the culmination of the club’s six leg series played in the year that brings together young golfers from golf clubs across Coast region for a chance to showcase their skills and compete for the coveted title in the tournament dubbed ‘a Year of Growth and Competition.’

Organised by Nyali Golf and Country Club under the local convenor Kailesh Chauhan, the final promises to be an exciting day of golf, celebrating the achievements and potential of Kenya’s junior golfers.

Chauhan said the series was designed to promote junior golf and create a platform for young golfers to excel and has expanded its wings, inviting juniors from all over Kenya to participate.

Chauhan said the inclusivity has helped nurture a vibrant golfing community, with the series growing into one of the most important youth golfing events in the region.

The convenor said the series has been a thrilling journey of talent, determination, and sportsmanship, with each category expected to be fiercely contested by the juniors mainly drawn from Diamond Leisure Golf Resort Club, Mombasa Golf Club and hosts Nyali.

“Whether as competitors or supporters, everyone is eagerly anticipating the day when these young golfers will showcase their passion for the sport and compete for the ultimate prize," said Chauhan.

The finals will feature four categories for boys and three for girls featuring the current leaders heading into the final event.

They are boys under 8 years Niall Chauhan, 8 to 10 years Craig Fassler, 12 to 14 years Shay Chauhan and 15 to 18 years is Aydan Jamal.

The top girls are those under 8 years Avian Klee, 8 to 12 years Nikki Pattni and the 12 to 15 years Gunita Patel.

Club Captain Dinesh Sasan said the club has made everything possible to ensure the young golfers enjoy every moment of the day both on and out of the course and that parents were eagerly awaiting to witness the skills and talents expected to be displayed by their children.

Nyali Club is reported to have the largest number of junior golfers and with schools now closed for long holidays, the turn out is expected to be massive.

Elsewhere at the Kakamega Sports Club also over the weekend, golfers from Nandi Bears will be hosted for a Matchplay tournament in the ongoing Western league series.

Club Chairman Andrew Maleche said each team will field 12 golfers and that all arrangement and preparation is complete in readiness for the tournament.

Maleche will be leading his team among them their green keeper who is also the Matchplay coordinator Ronald Omondi, and the Junior golf foundation coordinator Western region Derek Mwaura among others.

Nandi Bears Club will be sending a strong team that includes Kimeli Mutai and elite amateur Elly Barno.