Daniel Kiragu emerged the winner of the Faldo Series Kenya Golf Championship played at Karem Country Club.
The three day championship attracted a total of 68 top junior players where winners in four categories won slots at the Faldo Series European Grand Final scheduled at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates in November.
A total of 49 players made the cut to feature in the final round which culminated with three players all tied at the top.
Going to hole number 17, three players, Lee Kimathi, Krish Shah and Daniel Kiragu were all level with a score of plus 11. Kimathi dropped a shot at number 17, making it a two-man race to the finish. Kiragu and Shah both picked impressive birdies to finish at plus 10. It then called for a playoff at the par 4-hole number 12 to determine the winner. In all three rounds, Kiragu played level par at hole 12 while Shah had a bogey in round one and level pars in round two and three.
This forced the play off with a passionate crowd at Karen folowing the action.
First to tee off was Kiragu, his near perfect shot landing on the green, about 30 yards from the pin. Shah also returned the favour, his perfect swing landing five yards further from Kiragu’s. Shah’s putt was near perfect but it fell short by a meter. When Kiragu lined up his shot, it looked like the play off was heading to another hole.
But like a script borrowed from the best PGA championship putting, Kiragu took his time, aimed perfectly and gave his shot the required weight. He was off celebrating even before the ball went in to wild celebrations from the spectators.
“The last three holes is where the pressure was. That’s where the golf was played, I’m not gonna lie. In the playoff, I was a hundred percent sure (with the putt). I saw the ball was centre cup from six feet, and I just believed in myself,” said a beaming Kiragu after winning.
Krish Shah came so close and was not disappointed in losing with a playoff.
“When someone hits a perfect shot like that, all you can say is congratulations. When we started the day the three of us were almost even, just one shot difference between second and the leader. I played one under after the first nine and was leading by one shot. Second nine it got more tense as everyone got closer,” Observed Shah.
21-year-old Daniel Kiragu was the overall winner with 16-year-old Krish Shah winning the boys 16 and under category. Shashwat Harish with scores of 80, 76 and 76 for 232 was the runners up in the category.
14-year-old Bianca Ngecu amassed scores of 80, 84 and 88 for 252 to win the girls 16 and under. In second place was Audrey Gachora with scores of 87, 85 and 82 for a total of 254.
For the boys 21 and under, 18-year-old Lee Kimathi who was third overall was the category winner with scores of 75, 79 and 74 for 228 total. 18-year-old Nathan Ngweno was second with a total of 233 that included an impressive 74 in round three and 82 and 77 in round one and two.
21-year-old Ashley Awuor won the girls 21 years and under category with a total of 244. 19-year-old Faith Ontune was second with a total of 256.
Daniel Kiragu, Krish Shah, Bianca Ngecu and Ashley Awuor all get tickets to the Faldo Series European Grand Final.
Speaking at the end of competition, Junior Golf Foundation president Regina Gachora expressed the optimism of the championshi attaining its goal of grooming future Kenyan golfers.
“You have shown us the golf leaders in Kenya that the future is very bright. We are here to support you and guide you. It was a nail-biting tournament to the end, decided by a birdie and an eagle in the playoff. It means the game of golf has a new owner, you the juniors,” she said.
The Kenya Golf Union through its treasurer Karugu Macharia was elated at the chance the juniors have got to play their championship.
“Sir Nick Faldo is a golfing legend and with this arrangement, our juniors get a chance to be exposed to top notch competition experience and coaching from Sir Nick Faldo himself.”
He added “This is the kind of competition that we envision and trust to push our players to up their game and achieve great golfing fetes as individuals, national and global players.”
