Kenya Open golf event for Muthaiga

By James Waindi

Local premier golf event, the Kenya Open makes a return this year to its former traditional venue at Muthaiga Golf Club after seven years.

The last time the par 71 golf club hosted the high profile event was in 2002 before it was closed for upgrading as the tournament shifted to Karen Golf and Country Club where it has been held for the last six years.

Handicap 16 Hellene Gatiramu reacts after putting on the 18th hole during the Safaricom Festival of Golf Qualifying event. Photo: Courtesy

According to tournament organisers, hosting of the event is expected to be on a rotational basis. The annual event has also been shifted from its traditional dates in early March to April 16-19.

"After consultations with Professional Golfers Association (PGA), we decided to move the Open from Karen to Muthaiga as well as shift the dates from its traditional early March dates to mid-April.

"According to the PGA calendar, March falls under the European Challenge Tour series and there are a lot of tournaments set to take place in South America during that time. They would clash with Kenya Open if we insisted on the traditional dates and, since we want top golfers to attend our event, we couldn’t risk," said Kenya Open Golf Limited chairman Richard Kemoli.

One of the best

Kemoli said Muthaiga was one of the best courses in the country after it’s upgrading and noted that the organisers also wanted a change in venue after Karen had hosted the event for six years.

Kemoli, who was speaking during a cheque presentation ceremony where title sponsors East Africa Breweries Limited sponsored this year’s event to a tune of Sh12 million, said the prize money for this year’s event was Sh19.2 million (180,000 Euros) and noted that PGA would be sending 100 professional golfers for the tourney.

"The remaining 50 participants will be selected by the Professional Golfers Association of Kenya and Kenya Golf Union who are supposed to pick six amateurs. The tournament would be curtain raised by a Pro Am event on April 15 where participants would be required to pay an entry fee of Sh20,000," said Kemoli.

Financial target

He said other companies had expressed interests in sponsoring the tournament and said he was optimistic of hitting their financial target.

EABL Marketing Director Debra Mallowah said: "In addition to the Sh12million sponsorship, the sponsors will be spending a further Sh4 million on advertising and promotions for the tournament."

Meanwhile, an impressive score of 42 stableford points was enough for David Muthike to beat a large field of 230 participants and win the 10th round of the Safaricom Festival of Golf event.

Muthike, playing off handicap 13, posted 21 and 22 points in the first and second nines respectively to win the day-long event at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club and will lead seven qualifiers to the national finals.

Lady Golfer Hellen Sambwa posted 41 points (20, 21) to beat Quram Bhati on countback and settle in the runner-up spot.

Quram Bhati, who is a junior golfer, carded 41 points (22, 19) to finish third. Qualifiers- David Muthike, Hellen Sambwa, Quram Bhati, John Odhiambo, Tom Mulwa, Subash Ganatra, Joshua Ichange.

Nyeri: Nyeri’s handicap 16 golfer A K Kamau posted 39 points to reign supreme at the ongoing South Africa Golf Series held at Nyeri Golf Club. The event, which brought together participants from Nyahururu, Nanyuki and Nyeri, attracted a field of 65 golfers but only saw eight qualify for the national finals.

The qualifiers include A. K. Kamau (Nyeri), Dr E Ritho (Nyeri), Stella Mwangi (Nyeri), Nathan Munga (Nanyuki), Eddie Karumwa (Nyeri), S. N. Mukunya (Nyeri), Dennis Munene (Nanyuki) and Eng kinoti (Nanyuki).

Sigona: 50th Sigona Bowl, Gross winner- S. Muthugia 230 (76,74,80) gross, R/Up- J. W. Karanjam 232 (76, 79, 79) gross; Nett winner- John ndichu 222 nett (78,73,71) CB, R/Up- Anthony Kinuthia 222 nett (75, 78,69). Winner subsidiaries- M. S. Matharu 36 pts, R/Up- Haren Patel 34 pts, Guest subsidiaries- A. Owino 38 pts.