Farewell Celebration Held for Wangari in Limuru
The Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) in Kenya is taking a significant step forward in the development of its junior golfers, with a focus on integrating mental coaching programs into the national Golf-in-Schools programs and the She Golf Initiative. This move aims to go beyond physical skill development, fostering mentally resilient athletes capable of handling both competitive and life pressures.
The JGF President, Vincent Mukiri, has emphasised the importance of mental coaching alongside physical training and mentoring in junior golf development. The mental coaching approach is being adapted regionally and planned for scaling through established junior golf initiatives like Golf-in-Schools and She Golf Initiative.
The focus is on consistency, dedication, and budget allocation to sustain and grow these programs nationally. Ultimately, the JGF seeks to embed mental training as a standard part of junior golf coaching, thereby fostering stronger junior golfers and enhancing the sport's growth across Kenya.
These efforts were highlighted during the Limuru Junior Open 2025, a prominent junior golf tournament that showcased the growth and competitiveness of Kenya's young golfers. Notable female champions, encouraged by extended support from the She Golf Initiative, took home several titles.
In the 16-18 year age group, Bianca Ngecu clinched the girls' title with a total score of 225. Muthoni Kioi from Karen Golf Club won the 13-and-under categories with a total of 251. In the boys' category, Sean Malesi from the Royal Nairobi Golf Club emerged victorious with a commendable total of 239.
The overall boy title was won by Kevin Anyien from Golf Park with a score of 226, while Channel Wangari took home the overall girl title with an impressive score of 212, 4-under par. Jabari Ongwae won the 19-21 years category with a total of 248, and Belinda Wanjiru from the Vetlab Sports Club won the 14-15 years category with a total score of 230.
The sixth edition of the Limuru Junior Open 2025 concluded at the Limuru Country Club, bringing together young golfers from various clubs to showcase their talent and sportsmanship.
As the JGF continues to evolve its mental coaching programs, these efforts reflect a holistic approach to athlete development, transforming from localized efforts to integrated, scalable frameworks within school-based golf initiatives and gender-inclusive programs.
In light of the growth and competitiveness shown by Kenya's junior golfers at the Limuru Junior Open 2025, the JGF intends to further integrate mental coaching programs into school-based golf initiatives, such as Golf-in-Schools, and gender-inclusive programs like the She Golf Initiative to broaden the scope of athlete development beyond physical skill development. Thus, politics, in the form of decision-making and budget allocation, will play a crucial role in fostering a mentally resilient and competitive generation of golfers, imparting valuable lessons off the course and strengthening the sport's presence in Kenya.
