The Brookside Mulembe Junior Open showcased budding talent, with 76 young golfers displaying impressive skill and sportsmanship across all categories at the 18-hole Royal Nairobi Golf Club on Sunday.
A partnership between the Brookside Dairies, Mulembe Golf Society and the RNGC was a celebration of junior golf and a testament to the sport’s growing popularity and development in Kenya.
“Approximately eighty-five per cent of the Kenyan professional golfers come from the “
‘Mulembe nation,” highlighting the region’s rich talent pool,” stated George Esuchi, the Captain of the Mulembe Golfing Society.
He expressed gratitude to the Royal Nairobi Golf Club for hosting the event and emphasised the society’s initiative to bring junior golfers from Kitale Club and Kakamega Sports Club. The initiative provided them with an opportunity to acquire special coaching and the chance to play on another course.
The much-anticipated prize-giving ceremony was held, where winners were celebrated for their outstanding achievements.
Myle Fernandes of Kitale Club, based in South Africa, was declared the overall winner upon returning a score of level-par.
“I won the Mulembe Junior Open golf tournament because of my extensive preparation, focusing on my short game, course management, and mental discipline. That combination of preparation, focus and execution gave me an edge over the competition.” – Myles Fernandes.
In the special competition, Shuhan Peng took the top honours in the “Two Club” challenge on hole number 13. The putting competition saw fierce competition, with Ivan Telo in the 6-8 category. In the 9-10 putting challenge, Surya Bongu emerged as the winner, with Dalia Kabugu securing the runner-up spot.
Avanti Bongu won the chipping competition, while Cayleb Kebathi took second place.
The main categories, which were divided according to age and number of holes played, saw several standout performances: age six years and under (six holes). The youngest competitors demonstrated great promise. The winner for the boys’ category was not available, but Mark Macharia was a deserving second-place finisher. In the girls’ division, Kaali Wazighe took home the winner’s prize, with Reeva Nyaguthi finishing as runner-up.
Age seven-eight (nine holes: Micah Katonga put on a masterful display to win the boys’ category with a gross score of 44. Joseph Kabugi earned the second-place prize with a gross score of 57. For the girls, Riley Ndirangu secured the victory with a gross score of 75, and Page Wanjiru was second with a gross score of 76.
The nine-ten years (nine-holes): The competition was particularly tight in this category. Surya Bongu emerged as the winner for the boys category with an impressive gross score of 42. Zandro Obiero was runner-up, with a gross score of 48, to feature on the leaderboard.
In the girls’ division, Anati Bongu claimed the winner’s spot with a gross score of 48, while Dalia Kabugi finished as the runner-up with a gross score of 60. For the 11-13 years category (18-holes): In the longest and most challenging category, Jerome Njuguna was crowned the boys’ winner with a gross score of 91. Kai Mukumbu wound up second with a score of 101. For the girls, Natakia Kemei delivered a winning performance with a gross score of 110, and Terry Njau finished as the runner-up with a gross score of 113.
The success of the competition underscored the growing talent and passion for golf among Kenya’s youth.
“We believe in nurturing the next generation, and that goes beyond just providing nutritious products. It’s about championing lifestyles and a love for sports. The discipline and dedication we’ve seen from these young golfers are truly inspiring, and we are proud to support their journey.” Carol Nkirote, Health and Nutrition Manager, Brookside Dairy Limited.
She added, “Watching these young compete with such integrity and passion is a powerful reminder of why we are committed to this partnership. The values of discipline, friendship, and integrity that golf instils are values we are dedicated to supporting these initiatives for years to come.”