NCBA junior golf open in Kitale

Thirty-two junior golfers will compete in the NCBA North Rift Junior Open at Kitale Club from Friday to Sunday in a tournament that offers World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.

The three-day championship is part of the Junior Golf Foundation’s (JGF) November regional junior golf series aimed at expanding competitive opportunities and nurturing young talent across the country.

The tournament will also count towards the JGF Order of Merit, giving players an opportunity to improve their national standings as they seek to advance their golfing careers.

JGF Vice-President and Tournament Director Hannah Gatu said regional competitions were important in identifying and developing talent while providing young golfers with opportunities to compete at a higher level.

“Regional tournaments are essential to the continued growth of junior golf in Kenya. They allow us to reach young players in different parts of the country, give them opportunities to compete in WAGR-ranked events and expose them to the standards required as they progress in the sport,” said Gatu.

She said the registration of 32 players for the North Rift championship was encouraging and expressed optimism about a competitive tournament at Kitale Club.

The championship follows the second edition of the NCBA Mt Kenya Junior Open held at Nyeri Golf Club from November 6 to 8, which attracted 56 players.

The regional series will conclude with the NCBA Central Rift Junior Open scheduled for November 27 to 29.

Through the series, JGF seeks to strengthen the junior golf calendar, widen access to ranked competitions and provide emerging golfers with a platform to develop their skills.

The North Rift Junior Open begins on Friday, with the final round scheduled for Sunday.