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Nakuru tournament attracts golfers with hearing-impairment as junior dominate 11th leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour

Motivated by Deaflympics bronze medalist Isaac Makokha of Vetlab Golf Club, five junior golfers with hearing impairment were among the 159 junior golfers who took part in the Safaricom Junior Golf Tournament held at the par 73 Nakuru Golf Club over the weekend. The five were drawn from Ngala School for the Deaf in Nakuru County which also saw one of their colleagues, Jacinta Njeri rule 15 and Above Girls’ category after posting 118 points.

Six-year-old Lynette from Nyali golf club produced a splendid 37 gross to claim the overall best girl title with Nakuru-based junior John Mbagi emerging the best boy after posting a gross of 84 points.

“It feels nice to be the overall champion even though I didn’t play to my potential. I had a tough time at the front nine given the cold weather in the morning, but my back nine was good with solid putting and good drives. I believe golf is for everyone and I want to thank Safaricom for giving young people this opportunity. My future ambition is to become a professional and represent my country,” said Mbagi

Sunday’s tournament saw the largest turnout for the junior part of the tour with 159 participants and 62 aspiring junior golfers showing up for the golf clinic which was part of the day’s activities.

Earlier on Saturday, during the corporate day tournament, 17-year-old junior golfer Kelvin Kiplenge from Nakuru beat a field of 246 golfers to claim the overall title on 41 Stableford points. He became the second junior golfer to win the corporate tournament after 15-year-old Leo Gitonga won the second leg of the tour in Limuru. The victory also earned Kiplenge a place in the series grand finale to be held in Vipingo early in August.

“I am delighted to be the winner of the Safaricom Golf Tour here in Nakuru. The tournament was historical in my golfing career as this is the first time I have managed to score an eagle in my entire ten years of playing golf. As a junior, this means a lot and gives other young people in the sport and me a great hope for the future of golf in our country,” said Kiplenge

The Safaricom Golf Tour now moves to Nairobi, with Kenya Airforce Golf Club set to host the next leg on 16th July. The tour has so far drawn over 5,000 golfers who have participated in the tournaments, junior clinics and outreach programmes.