Kenyan youthful golfer Andrew Wahome sinks a "Hole in One" in South Africa

Youthful South African based Kenya Student Golfer Andrew Wahome. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Kenyan youthful golfer Andrew Wahome recorded history by sinking a rare “Hole in One” at Pretoria’s 6514-meter, par 72 Wingate Park Country Club course in the Republic of South Africa.

The 18-years-old Kenyan from Mombasa, a member of South Africa’s Waterkloof Golf Club and currently a student at TUKS High School in Pretoria got the rare luck during an Inter Schools Golf Competition.

The rising golfer will be finishing his O levels in November 2024 and is expected to join university of Pretoria in February next year.

“Intense concentration and commitment to the sport serve as a reminder that success in Golf, as in life, requires unwavering focus, Intense concentration and commitment to the Sport, “said Andrew.

In golf, a 'hole-in-one' occurs when a one-shot ball hits from a tee to start a 'hole-in-one' into the the cup and most commonly occur on par 3 holes, the shortest distance holes on a standard size golf course and is often said by golfers that it’s a once in a lifetime achievement for golfers.

Back a Home, her excited Mother Alice Wahome, a Coast Senior Veteran Golfer also known as ‘Mother of Golf Champions’ who is based at Nyali Golf and Country Club in Mombasa was overjoyed upon hearing the news.

“After getting the news of his “Hole in one” I was excited because he has been looking forward to achieving this feat which has eluded even good Golfers. He has so many close shots to this but this was the icing on the cake in the Inter league competition that they won on this day,”said Alice.

Wingate Park began as a Jewish country club in 1947 and takes its name from Brigadier Orde Wingate, a Zionist who achieved fame for his exploits in Burma during the Second World War while TUKs high school is a sports school of excellence for all sports in South Africa.

Youthful South African based Kenya Student Golfer Andrew Wahome. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Elsewhere, over 150 top Amateur Golfers are expected to grace the Tanzanian leg of the 2024 KCB East Africa Golf Tour at the 18-hole Lugalo Golf Club in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

The regional tourney will get underway at 7:00 am as the players continue to fight for their places in the tour’s grand finale slated for December 6 where the venue is yet to be confirmed.

Club Captain Major Japeth Masai expressed his joy acknowledging KCB’s role in giving an opportunity to golfers from around the region to participate in the 2024 series, which will go a long way in fostering a golfing culture in East Africa.

“We are excited to be part of the 2024 KCB East Africa Golf Tour. Last year, we did not field a tournament but this year, we are part of the regional series that has elevated the sport to unimaginable heights. I welcome golfers to Dar es Salaam to enjoy a beautiful well-kept course. We expect a huge turnout this weekend,” noted Masai.

Outside Kenya, KCB has held another tournament in Burundi, making Tanzania the second East African country the Tour is traversing this year while Uganda and Rwanda are also expected to host their tournaments before the end of the year.

KCB Group Director Marketing and Communications Rosalind Gichuru said, “Our Corporate citizenship agenda places people at the heart of what we do as a brand. I am extremely delighted with our reach so far. As it stands, we have interacted with 1500 participants and over 1000 juniors from the clinics that ran concurrently with the series. Our aim is to bolster the sport and to make it accessible for all.” 

The Kenyan edition has traveled to Mombasa, Nairobi, Kakamega, Nyeri, Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Kiambu, and Nakuru counties. This year, KCB intends to reach 3000 participants and 1500 juniors compared to last year’s edition.

The latest entries to the grand finale include Philip Wahome, Mike Njogu, Zack Koech, Steve Lokonyo, Evelyn Otsuyala, Koki Muia, Epimach Maritim, and Cyllus Onyango who qualified after the 12th leg of the tour at the Karen Country Club last weekend.

After Tanzania's edition, the series will head to Nyanza Golf Club on August 17.

KENYA WEEKEND CLUB DRAW; VETLAB SPORTS CLUB

Saturday/Jacob’s Cup Qualifying Round and Subsidiary; Sponsored by PDM Kenya;

First Tee AM;                                                     

06:30 Jayesh Chudasama, Tejas Shah, Vishal Tank, Palash (Jnr) Tank; 06:40 Charles Ogolla, John Munge, John Munge, Pius Kaua; 06:50 Narendra Hirani, Ranjit Rupra, Shafik Dossaji, Chetan Hayer; 07:00 Sunil Parmar, Simon Kinuthia, Jayesh Chavda, Mitesh Chavda; 07:10 Innocent Nyakwara, Pratik Mandaliya, Himanshu Rishi, Manish Aggarwal; 07:20 Bernard Mandere, Moses Gatundu, Anil Unia, Michael Kinuthia; 07:30 Timothy Opar, Eric Wakarima, Joseph Kirui, Roy Bore; 07:40 Mbugua Muiruri, John Mureu, Lilian Migoye, Francis Muthiani; 07:50 Charles Munyori, Faisal Nurani, Jeremiah Kosgei, Arjan Shankla; 08:00 K Shah, Shitul Shah, Mukesh Bector; 08:10 F. K. Mugo, Shirish Pandit; 08:20 Martin Makundi, Francis Musila, Aleem Ladak, David Muchungu; 08:30 Paul Okoth, Silaba Ominde, Wanjiku Mathu, Mathu Kiunjuri.

First Tee PM;

11:30 Halima Salim, Keith Gretton, George Warui, Spenser Okach; 11:40 Edgar Munene, Nicholas Kariuki, Gulraaj Sehmi, Kenneth Kiura; 11:50 Susan Ngure, Jane Wokabi, Njuguna Ndung'u, Nancy Ndungú; 12:00 Jared Osoro, Kozue Okumu, Kennedy Ondieki, Wilberforce Nadida; 12:10 Tajdin Thanawalla, Dorcas Mukabi, Adrian Mwangi (Jnr), Suresh Siyani; 12:20 Lady Captain's Time; 12:30 Akil Mughal, Dinesh Asodia, Lavanya Bakhshi, O. F. Kibuna; 12:40 Jitesh Raithatha, Mavji Gorassia, Joseph Kinuthia, Jayshwin Shah; 12:50 Eric Mugo, Wangari Kabugu (Jnr), Charles Wachira; 13:00 Captain's Time; 13:10 Ognjen Plakalovic, Niral Shah, Deep Shah, Ashish Khamar; 13:20 Nelson Ndegwa, Esther C. Chumo, Lee Njoroge.

Tenth Tee AM;

06:30 Vimal Sharma, Sreerama Gadiraju, Kandadi Reddy, Roshan Reddy (Jnr); 06:40 Nirav Sudhir, Thian Shah (Jnr), Solomon Atasiaya; 08:30 Rakesh Lakhani, Bharat Lakhani, Sanjay Thakkar, Vivek Vajpayee.

Tenth Tee PM;

11:30 Charles Kamari, Peter Muiruri, Leonard Munyua, Samuel Kigera; 11:40 Hiren Joshi, Vijay Budhdev, Sanjay Kotecha, Chetan Jobanputra,11:50 Nancy Njeri, Joab Ngai, Dixon Maina; 12:00 Robinson Owiti, Elizabeth Mungai, B. Simwa, Isaiah Otuke; 12:10 Michael Chege, Henry Kamuti, Mary Nyamemba, Frankie Gichuru; 12:20 David Nyakangó, Margaret Nyakangó, Timothy Mwenda;13:00 Maina Iraki, Edgar Kalya, Ian Njoroge, Kang'e Saiti.