KATHMANDU: Tenzing Norbu won the NGA-RNGC Junior Cup Golf Tournament

here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) on Sunday.

Played under stableford full handicap format, Norbu accumulated 22 points to claim the overall championship trophy. Saharsha Singh won the Boys’ 7-13yrs category with the score of 11, two points better than runner up Surans Chaudhary.

Aditi Ghimire claimed the Girls’ 7-13yrs section trophy with the score of five points. With the score of 17 points, Nairav Koirala won the Boys’ 7-10yrs section title.

Likewise, Sandeep Kafle clinched the Boys’ 14-18yrs title. Sandeep scored 19 points while runner up Prithivi Malla earned seven. Luniva Shakya won the Girls’ 14-18yrs championship with the score of 17 points, three more than runner up Kencho Ongdi. Other winners included Yash Rana (most par) and Syreyas Bikram Shah (lucky draw for Samsung mobile).

Eighteen-year-old Norbu, who is the younger brother of golfers Wangchen Dandup and Tashi Tsering, said the sport was too familiar for him. “I was introduced with golf since I was 11/12 years of age but I have never given it a serious thought,” said Norbu, the Lincoln School student who also won the most birdies award. “My brothers wanted me to play more often but I have taken golf just for fun,” said Norbu adding that he would keep playing the game.

Winner of the Girls’ 14-18yrs category, Luniva Shakya said that the tournament inspired her to continue with the sport. The 10th grader at The British School, Luniva said, “It was a good opportunity for us all and the event has encouraged us to play even better,” said the 15-year-old who learnt few golfing lessons at the Gokarna Golf Course, thanks to her father Purna Man Shakya.

In all, 27 players — 15 in 7-13yrs category and 12 in 14-12yrs section — took part in the tournament, first of its kind in Nepal. The tournament was organised as part of the Nepal Golf Association’s (NGA) grass-root programme. The NGA general secretary Tashi Ghale believed that the number of the children would increase significantly next time.

He rued the missed chances of not being able to send the Nepali junior golfers at the international events. “Since we have started junior golf now, we will be able to participate in the near future,” said Ghale. RNGC president Madhukar Yakthumba, NPGA president Rabindra Man Shrestha and NGA vice-president Prachanda Bahadur Shrestha gave away prizes to the winners.

Meanwhile, Tashi Norbu Sherpa, Sandesh Neupane and Kalsang Sherpa were awarded with the best putter, best chipper and longest driver respectively in the Junior Golf Training Camp held recenlty here.