Home based junior golfer Kelvin Kiplenge was named the overall winner of the eleventh leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour held at the par 73 Nakuru Golf Club course on Sunday.
Playing off handicap 16, the 17-year-old Kiplenge carded 18 points on the first nine to combine with impressive 23 points courtesy of an eagle at hole thirteen and several pars and bogeys to beat a field of 246 golfers to claim the overall title on 41 Stableford points.
“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 bright future for our country in golf,” said Kiplenge.
Kiplenge becomes the second junior golfer to win the Safaricom Golf Tour corporate tournament after 15-year-old Leo Gitonga who won the second leg of the tour in Limuru. The victory earned Kiplenge a place in the series grand finale to be held in Vipingo early in August.
Claiming the winners’ men category was Keval Maisuria on 41 points ahead of Fredrick Mbuthia who scored 40 points.
Among the lady golfers, handicap 21, Felistah Njeri was crowned the winner after she carded a round of 39 points, while Eric Mugo, playing off handicap 22, was awarded the staff winner with 35 points.
In the longest drive contest, Dr. Kimeli Mutai of Nandi Bear won the Men’s category with Nakuru’s Lady Captain, Lindah Munyao winning the Ladies category.
Meanwhile, the Nakuru tournament has attracted over 160 juniors taking part in the juniors’ tournament today, Sunday, 10th July, with over 70 aspiring juniors attending the golf clinics at the same facility.
The Safaricom Golf Tour now moves back to Nairobi, with Kenya Airforce Golf Club slated for 16th July for its twelfth leg before Vet Lab and Royal Golf Club in the subsequent weekends. The tour has drawn over 5,000 golfers who have participated in the tournaments, junior clinics and outreach programmes.
As part of growing Golf among the juniors in the country, Safaricom has partnered with Junior Golf Foundation to tap and nurture young talent in the golf sport. The juniors can register with Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) for KES.1,000 and have access to any golf club in the country to play Golf.
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