ACTION IN NYANZA

Julius Oketch receives the overall winner’s prize from the Standard Group Head of Think Outdoor Kizito Namulanda during the Standard County Classic tournament at Kakamega Sports Club [courtesy]

Kisumu, Kenya: Par-70 Nyanza Golf Club will host the on-going Standard Group Golf Classic Series this weekend in Kisumu.

Jazz Sokhi, the Club captain, said they are happy to host the fifth leg of this year's series after they successfully held a tournament at the club last year.

"I am happy as the club captain that Standard Group is bringing the tournament again to the Nyanza Golf Club. Our golfers are happy to associate with The Standard group and we are also happy to announce that we have been major consumers of their products," said Sokhi.

Eng, Phillip Mbugua, a Nyanza-based golfer, thanked The Standard Group for sponsoring the tournament at the club and for helping nurture the golfing talent.

The Nyanza leg comes after the fourth leg that was staged at Thika Club on June 16 and the third leg that was staged at the Kakamega Golf Course on May 24.

Local golfers were impressed with the Standard Classic Series tournament held at the par 72 Kakamega Golf Club, especially the performance of the junior golfers who also graced the event.

The junior golfers, aged between 9-19, also had their captain Alvin Misango, 13, who were also playing with ease that left most of the Standard Group staff amused.

Nine-year-old Mylas Isavwa of Jabstir Academy, who is in class four, said: "The game of golf is exiting. It's also exercising and makes one feel flexible, it's entertaining and one can pass time while playing instead of getting into peer groups."

"I used to accompany my father Holland Isavwa and cousins Vandy, Cerita and uncle Brian Isavwa to the golf club and, after walking for nine kilometers, and stopping to play and talk, I got interested in knowing the game and when Kakamega golf club started the junior section I joined," added the Jabstir academy pupil.

Alvin Misango, 13, is the junior section captain. When we caught up with him, he was playing along with his elder sister Kadenyeka Tracyanne 19, who just completed her secondary school at St Patrick School in Kakamega.

"I started playing golf last year but it has been on and off because of the commitment in school. My father (Clarence Misango) inspired me to join golf and I would follow him here to see how he played," said Alvin.

"My mother (Pamela) urged me on and would occasionally follow me in the greens. I am happy that I won last year and I am hoping to be a great golfer one day," added the captain.

His father Clarence said the boy started golf last year and has been playing on and off because of school. He thanked The Standard for hosting a tournament in Kakamega and for ensuring that they nurture and grow talent.

Kizito said that as the Standard Group, they were impressed to see kids play golf with ease and said it was encouraging.

"It is impressive to see kids play golf with ease. The Standard Group believes in nurturing talent and it is my hope that these kids will someday become some of the best players in the region," said Kizito Namlanda, head of outdoors operations.