Diani Masters Golf Championships kicks off in Leisure Lodge Club

By Maarufu Mohamed

The hunt for the ‘Green Jacket’ in the annual Diani Beach Masters Golf Championships kicks off on Friday at the par 72 Course of Leisure Lodge Golf Club in South Coast of Mombasa.

This is Kenya’s most celebrated Golfer of the Year tournament (GOTY), which has attracted 120 players including East Africa’s best amateur golfers.

The championship, which is the 13th edition, has been dubbed ‘Keringet Poa Diani Beach Masters’ following the entry of Keringet as title sponsors.

It started at the club in 1998 as a championship event, and is a one of the major events in the Kenya Golf Union calendar of events that counts towards GOTY awards since 2003.

The club’s Assistant Manager Ernest Chea said on Tuesday that sixty golfers of handicap nine and below will battle it our for the DBM green jacket (gross competition), while another sixty of handicap 20 and below will compete in the Subsidiary Stableford competition.

Andersen missing

The two-day 36 holes gross competition will be played on Saturday and Sunday, while the 18 holes stableford event will be played on Saturday only.

The event starts off on Friday at 5.30pm with all golfers participating in the Longest Drive Competition.

Kenya’s Stefan Andersen who is the ‘Green jacket’ titleholder, will be missing in action since he is currently camping at the Lake Benoni Golf Club at Gauteng in South Africa preparing for the all African Amateur Golf Teams Championships.

But Golf Park’s David Opati currently playing off scratch and Coast Open 2011 titleholder is expected to lead top Kenyan amateurs.

Those to watch and playing off scratches include current GOTY leader Joseph Waweru of Golf Park, Opati, Mathews Omondi, Robinson Owiti and Nelson Simwa all of Vet Lab.

Several amateurs

Others are James Karanja (Limuru), Alfred Nandwa (Vet Lab), and the tournament’s two 2007 and 2009 winner Francis Kimani (Limuru).

They will be backed by several amateurs playing single handicaps including Amos Kamau (Leisure), Dennis Sakwa, Tonny Omulli and John Wangai, all of Golf Park, Frank Matilu (Muthaiga) and John Ndichu ( Sigona).

Rivals Tanzania, who have won the event twice (2004) by Hassan Kadio and in 2008 by Bryson Nyenza, are expected to send in a strong team before the entry closes on Wednesday at 6pm.

Chief Executive Officer of Leisure Beach Resort John Kioko Mutua said the club course designed by Thommy Fjastad, was one of the most beautiful golf courses in East Africa. It is characterised by rolling fairways, 88 challenging bunkers, appealing water features and impeccable greens.

He said the 18-hole golf course offer panoramas of tropical impressions expected to inspire golfers by its beauty, and challenges, which will eventually improve their level of play.

Mutua said the full size driving range has a chipping green and bunker for practice and the Club’s course which measures 6,084 meters (6,632 yards) has been maintained to a high standard with irrigated fairways running through palm.