Mok does part to get more youths playing golf

By JACK AMI
BUSINESSMAN Joe Mok fielded a team of youngsters at the recent Prime Minister’s Corporate Golf Challenge with an eye on development.
Mok told The National on Monday that he joined forces with his sons Joshua (12) and Tyron (14), and nephew Stanford Kawale (21) for the challenge at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club last Friday.
Mok said his priority was to develop young golfers while raising funds for Team Papua New Guinea and “not to win the challenge”.
“In the past, I fielded adults and won the 2011 Prime Minister’s Corporate Challenge while investing in a good cause to support Team PNG,” the owner of Kenmok Realestate said.
“I am now one of the beneficiaries of the challenge, as my 16-year-old daughter Natalie is on the national golf team.
“She won a silver medal at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu last year.”
Mok said his daughter also maintained her form to win this year’s West New Britain and East New Britain challenges in her category.
“Natalie started playing golf when she was five years old and has gone from strength to strength,” Mok said.
He said Natalie was also one of the youngsters identified through the Bank South Pacific’s golf programme. Mok said developing golfers at an early age was the way forward for the sport to flourish in the country.
He commended the corporate sponsors, including corporate golf sponsor The National, and the Government for backing the development of Team PNG athletes by getting behind Friday’s challenge.
“It’s also up to us parents to support and guide our children as they develop their interest in golf and other sports,” Mok said.