Event: NCBA 2022 Serena Junior Championship
Dates: 15-17 April 2022
Venue: Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa, Kigo
Tanzanian youngster Garv Chadha returned the best score of 76 gross in the boys 15-18 years category of the NCBA 2022 Serena Junior Championship during the event’s opening round on Saturday at the par-72 Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa, Kigo.
Garv Chadha who is the Tanzania U-18 national team Captain and a member of the Arusha Gymkhana Club is in a good place to finish atop in his group during the Easter Sunday final round as he leads Uganda national team pair of Reagan Akena and Godfrey Nsubuga by three strokes.
Garv Chadha who was in the recent past crowned the Double Title Golfer of the Year 2020 and Match Play 2021 Champion in his locality says that the opening round was a bit challenging due to wet conditions in the morning but he hopes to finish on a high note.
“The opening day was quite tough especially in the morning…we had winds and rain, it was hard to keep everything under control. Otherwise I enjoyed the round, it was very nice,” Garv Chadha said.
“Going forward, I’ll try my best to win it on Sunday,” Garv Chadha noted adding that; “it’s my first time in Uganda and it’s been an amazing experience playing with different players from various countries. I have learnt new cultures.”
The Serena Junior Championship which is held in partnership with US Kids Golf and Golf for Kids Kenya is a qualifier for the Venice Open scheduled for 18th August 2022. Garv Chadha has his eyes set on the Italian showpiece.
“I haven’t really had a big chance like this and I hope to make it. I would like to thank all the sponsors of this tournament and the management of this golf resort because the course looks phenomenal and the greens are just rolling so nicely,” Garv Chadha said.
Aliabass Kermalli is another Tanzanian going strong in the boys 15-18 age category that has 15 players. He was fourth with 80 in the opening round and says that qualifying for the Venice Open would be a dream come true but he has also promised a good display on Sunday.
For Godfrey Nsubuga, the Uganda junior team Captain who’s fresh from the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge in Cairo is upbeat and aims to come atop after the final round saying that he’s no stranger to the course and hopes that home advantage will do him good.
I the girls’ 15-18 years age category, Ugandan pair of Frista Birabwa and Vivian Wanok Achen are first and second respectively after the first round off 94 and 98.
Uganda has players in each and every category hence increasing chances of the home athletes to walk away with silverware and the like.
The Serena Junior Championship is graced by players aged 5-18 years (boys and girls) from various countries, including outside African. The tournament field is divided into age groups and every group plays from an age specific yardage.
