Young Wangari defends Thika Junior Golf Open Classic title

Chanelle Wangari, 7, successfully defended her Thika Junior Golf Open Classic Day title at Thika Sports Club on Sunday.

The Class Two pupil at Makini School registered a total of 32 stableford points to beat other 100 contestants in the girls' Age 6-9 competition, which she first won in April this year.

Wangari, who has won six other national trophies and medals, will today head for the Junior Golf Competition at Karen Country Club,  Nairobi, where she is confident to carry the day.

The non-handicap player will also be defending her national girls 6-9 years title at the Muthaiga Junior Open on August 24, 2014.

Wangari will be using the tournament to improve her golf skills ahead of the Africa Junior Golf Championship (AJC) in South Africa between September 1-5.

She qualified for the AJC in April after Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) ratified her last year's performance.

"She has been consistent in the girls' junior category and we are confident that she will win a medal for Kenya at the forthcoming AJC," said JGF chairman Ashwin Gidoomal.

The young golfer is currently perfecting her shots and putts at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club and Windsor Country Club ahead of the continental event.

"I am ready to meet other junior golfers from around the world and my hope is to return with a trophy and a medal," said Wangari, who is grateful to her father David Mwangi for his support. 

The AJC, to be held at Zebula Country Club and Elements Country Club, has attracted top junior golfers in age groups of 6-18 from Kenya, USA, England, Belgium, France, Nigeria and other 20 African countries.

Should the Kenyan juniors win in South Africa, they will be the first youngest non-handicap African Champions to ever achieve that fete before age of ten.

Winners at this event will earn a spot to compete at the 2015, World Junior Championship, in Pinhurst, USA.

The world championship is staged in one of the finest golf courses in the world where professional golfers such as Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllory have battled out for major championship titles like the US Masters and PGA. -eoyugi@standardmedia.co.ke