16-Year-old Jay Nathwani joined the KeNako Academy School Going Programme after the mid-year July 2017 break. Jay wished to
participate in a programme that allowed him to focus on both his education and his golf aspirations. His dream is to one day become a golf professional, but should this not happen his education must still stand him in good stead. He was thrilled to discover that KeNako Academy could provide him with the opportunity to accomplish both.

Jay is currently completing his Cambridge AS Level at Rundle College and his subjects include; Mathematics, English, French, Economics, Physics and Chemistry. He enjoys school, which is sometimes challenging but finds his teachers very supportive.

After school, Jay is committed to following his golf programme. This includes the mental skills sessions, practising his short game with Golf Coach Carlo Kok and focusing on his long game with Head Golf Coach Roger Wessels. He values Roger’s experience and feels that he has a great deal to learn from him. He also appreciates the assistance he receives from Carlo, stating that his short game has improved immensely. Jay also enjoys his fitness sessions with Fitness Expert Jan-Harm Venter who pushes him to his limits and does not tolerate any slacking according to Jay!

Jay’s father was the one who encouraged the family to start playing golf. Jay remembers that he was about 9 years old at the time. At the age of 11, Jay started playing competitively and he found it exciting. When he won a cross-country tournament in Gymkhana, it was the starting point of his golf career. His goals for 2018 are to become a scratch handicap and to break 70.

A highlight of his career thus far has been competing in The Junior Open in 2016 at the Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club in Scotland, where he was part of the Tanzanian team at this prestigious event. He was the top-placed player from the African continent, an achievement that he can be very proud of!

Since joining KeNako, Jay has improved enormously and a highlight of 2018 has been Jay finishing in a tie for 15th place in the individual rankings at the All Africa Junior Golf Challenge that was played in Morocco in March. Once again, Jay was officially representing his country Tanzania. At the end of the week, he was the top placed Tanzanian by 14 strokes at the event. Yet another fulfilling accomplishment!

Continue to pursue your dreams Jay – you have what it takes to succeed! As Sakyong Mipham once said, “There are no boundaries – only possibilities.”