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The Nairobian

Kenyan Junior golfers emerge tops in the African Trophy at the Junior Open in Scotland

Golf

By Maarufu Mohamed | Jul 21, 2024

Hot on the heels of competing as part of the Kenyan Team in South Africa during the All-Africa Junior Team Championship in April, Kenyan Juniors from Muthaiga Golf Club, Bianca Ngecu and Junaid Manji had only one month to do their school exams as well as prepare before heading to The Junior Open in Scotland to compete in what is one of the most prestigious Junior events in the world.

The two Juniors joined a field of 120 players aged between 12-16 years and drawn from 70 Countries to compete over three (3) days in the wet and windy conditions at the links course of Kilmarnock (Brassiere) Golf Club in Scotland that was hosting the Junior Open from 15th-17th July 2024.

Part of the renowned juniors participating in the event included the eventual winner Hyosong Lee who is ranked the 7th best Junior player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the highest ranked player, girl or boy, and who has already won the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup on the Japan LPGA Tour.

Other popular players who have competed in the Junior Open in the past include Patrick Reed who won the event in 2006 and went on to win the Ryder cup and the 2018 Masters tournament and another eight Tour events.

The final day saw Manji finish overall position 41 in the boys’ category while Ngecu finished an impressive position 21 in the girls’ category.

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Bianca went on to win for Kenya the African Trophy having beaten perennial rivals South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt as well as Angola, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Gabon Mauritius, Botswana, Cameroon, and Ghana who were also competing in the event.

Ngecu was over the moon as she celebrated the achievement with her family while Manji was a bit shy in his celebrations but promised to be back in Europe soon to win the Claret Jug which is the main trophy Pros compete for during the Open, a major golfing event in the Pros International Calendar.

Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) President Madam Regina Gachora congratulated Manji and Ngecu saying it’s a major achievement for Kenya and Junior Golf.

“First time we are making such strides and all the work we have put in over the last 3 years is paying off and the results are quite visible. We are for sure on the right trajectory. I would also like to thank The Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) Vice President Mr. Vincent Mukiri who accompanied the juniors to Scotland and has walked the journey with them. I would like to commend the coaches John Van Liefland and CJ Wangai who have been training the juniors in the national junior golf squad since November 2023. The hard work and training are bearing good fruit, “said Gachora.

The two Juniors now head back home to participate in some of the local Junior Golf competitions in a packed August calendar before jetting again to Scotland for an all-expense paid, one-week summer session Congaree Global Initiative (CGGI) Scholarships that they had been nominated for by virtue of their exemplary performance in 2023.

Participants of the CGGI will receive intensive training in golf under the watchful eyes of world-renowned coaches, be mentored and guided on applications to top level colleges.

The Junior Golf Foundation’s principal objective is to promote junior golf development in Kenya and encourage boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 21 years to play the game of golf.