Nel wins NamKids Windhoek Open
Sam Nel has started his golf season on a high note after winning the NamKids Junior Golf Series Windhoek Open last weekend.
Held at Windhoek Golf Club, the junior season opener featured 31 players and teed off with a coaching clinic on Friday, focusing on confidence, fundamentals and tournament readiness, setting the tone for the season.
The event featured boys and girls in the U19 and U15 age categories, who competed over 54 holes, while players in the U13 and U11 categories played 36 holes, and the U9 prospects competed over 18 holes across Saturday and Sunday.
Nel, who competed in the U15 boys category, clinched the overall title after finishing with the lowest score of 223 strokes.
His groupmate in the U15 category, JP le Grange, posted the second-lowest score of 243 strokes to win the section, ahead of Caleb Volschenk in second place on 249 and Regardt Kruger in third on 259.
Other outstanding golfers
In the U19 boys section, Prince Robert Kahimuse emerged as the top performer with a score of 245, followed closely by Wouter Smith on 246, while Kevin Zhang finished third on 252.
The U15 boys development section featured sole competitor Dandre du Plessis, who recorded 208 strokes over two rounds.
In the U13 boys category, Declan Renton claimed top honours with 153 strokes, followed by Dihan Hooland-Muter on 174 and Marcel Stiemert on 175.
The U11 boys section was won by Jaundre Wise with 155 strokes, ahead of Hanru Botes on 199 and Billy Nawanga on 231. The U11 girls category featured sole competitor Liuyiduo Lu, who finished on 229 strokes over two rounds.
The U9 category was played over reduced rounds, with eventual winner Janko de Klerk tallying 105 strokes over two rounds, while Robert Bravenboer found the going tough. In the girls’ section, Ndahafa Nambahu finished on 134 strokes over two rounds.
‘Great sportsmanship’
Tournament organiser Damian da Silva congratulated the players for their participation and praised the winners for their performances on the course.
“It was an excellent tournament filled with competitive spirit, growth and great sportsmanship. We are extremely proud of every junior who competed and represented junior golf with passion and respect,” said Da Silva.
The next event on the junior golf calendar is the All Africa Junior Team Championship, scheduled to take place at Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club in Nairobi, Kenya, from 22 to 27 March.
According to reports, the tournament is expected to bring together approximately 140 top junior golfers from 20 countries, who will compete over a 54-hole strokeplay format in a bid to qualify for the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan later this year.
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