ZGA congratulates budding golfers after impressive show in Kenya

THE Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) has praised the country’s up and coming golfers who put up a brilliant show on the greens during the inaugural NCBA Kenya Invitational Junior Tournament which was held at Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club over the weekend.

Featuring over 120 junior golfers from around the world, Zimbabwe’s budding stars Tanaka Chatora, Tawana Mangone, Munesu Chimhini, and Miriam Masiya put on impressive displays much to the jubilation of ZGA president, Martin Chikwana.

Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub, Chikwana said such tournaments play a huge part in helping players, which is a great step towards their development. He added that it also helps them grow individually.

“We can only be pleased that our juniors are taking part in such events. It enhances their growth which ultimately puts them in a space of further development. The more they play under tournament conditions the more they learn so much about themselves,” said Chikwana.

Chatora secured the boys’ 15-18 age group title with an impressive six-over-par 222 with round scores of 70, 78 and 74. He was followed by another Zimbabwean, Mangone who finished on 17-over-par 233 after round scores of 72, 83 and 78. In third place, there was Kenya’s Kevin Anyien who carded 21-over-par 235 with round scores of 82, 76 and 77.Chimhini managed to bring success in the boys’ 12 year olds’ category as he claimed the top spot after carding a nine-over-par 225 with round scores of 75, 73 and 77 following a play-off with Sean Widor from Austria. In third place, there was Aidan Gachora from Kenya with a gross total of 246. He carded 30-over-par with round scores of 79, 83 and 84.In the girls’ 13 and 14 age group, Masiya stood tall and secured the top spot with a total of 15-over-par 231 after round scores of 76, 74 and 81.

The young Zimbabwean starlet was 10 shots ahead of second placed Audrey Gachora from Kenya who finished with a gross of 241 from round scores of 79, 82 and 80. Gachora shot 25-over-par. In third place there was Rohini Shah also from Kenya who finished with a total of 32-over-par with scores of 86, 81 and 81.The tournament was organised by US Kids Golf in collaboration with the Junior Golf Federation Kenya and sponsored by NCBA Bank. Participants were drawn from the host nation, Kenya, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, China, Ghana, India, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

It provided a unique platform for budding golfers to showcase their skills, compete in age specific categories and strive for the coveted US Kids Golf Priority Status which allows them to participate in other US Kids Golf tournaments.

In addition, the tournament also served as a qualifying event for the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) for boys and girls aged between 15 and 18.

– @brandon_malvin