Kenyans chase African title in Nyali
What you need to know:
- Handicap-wise, the Kenyan team is the strongest, although both Zimbabwe and Zambia also boast a few single-figure handicap golfers.
Kenya stands a good chance of adding the All Africa Girls Championship title to its collection when the Kenyan girls take on opponents from Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda in the inaugural event at the par-71 Nyali Golf Club from Friday.
Handicap-wise, the Kenyan team is the strongest, although both Zimbabwe and Zambia also boast a few single-figure handicap golfers.
“Looking at the line-up of the other countries, we have a great chance of clinching the Girls Championship. Our girls have been playing serious and competitive events over the past one month such as the Gilberson and Page and our own Junior Matchplay Championship,” said Christina Andersen who is the team manager.
Andersen who is also the national ladies’ team captain that retained the Gilberson and Page trophy in Zambia, said the course was very well prepared, with the greens looking great.
Save for Sarah Khanyereri who is playing off handicap 10, the rest are playing off between six and two. Naomi Wafula, at two, is the team’s star. All the teams featured in the official practice round on Thursday before the opening ceremony presided over by Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho.
“The greens are abit fast but I think we can handle them,” said 15-year-old Kellie Gachaga, the youngest player in the Kenyan team currently playing off handicap six.
“We have had good rounds of practice and all set to take on the other teams’’ said Naomi Wafula who said was looking forward to meet the Zambian and Zimbabwean girls again. The format for the girls is stroke play with the best three scores to count towards the team aggregate.
GOOD COURSE
Zambia’s team coach, professional Melissa Nawa, who has played in Kenya many times, said the course was fine but the greens very fast.
Her younger sister Tina Nawa, playing off handicap four is one of the top players in the Zambian line-up. Also standing a good chance to win is the Kenyan boys team in the Tri-Nations tournament which features Kenya, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. The team replaced Namibia.
“We know Zimbabwe have good players who are playing off plus one and two, but we will give them a run for their money,” said team captain Mathew Wahome who is also the Coast Open champion.
The boys starts with singles matchplay, followed by the round two foursomes and four ball better ball tomorrow and the final round individual strokeplay on Sunday.
