Kenya Open: Migliozzi among five former champions to lead onslaught

Italian Guido Migiliozzi is sprinkled with champagne after he emerged this year's Magical Kenya Open Golf tournament winner at the Karen County club on 17th March, 2019, [Stafford Ondego]

The 52nd edition of Magical Kenya Open golf championship is just around the corner.

The tournament slated for March 18-21 at the par 72 Karen Golf and Country Club in Nairobi has attracted five former champions including the 2017 winner, Kenyan born Aaron Rai of the United Kingdom.

Others are Sebastian Soderberg of Sweden, Haydn Porteous of South Africa and the Italian duo of Lorenzo Gagli and Guido Migliozzi.

Rai, who has Kenyan roots scored 17 under par 267 to lift the 49th edition of the event at Muthaiga Golf Club.

His mother was born in Kenya, but left the country to settle in the UK in the ‘70s.

Soderberg, who has become a regular visitor to Kenya, won the tournament in 2016.

He was in Qatar last week to sharpen his irons at the Commercial Bank of Qatar Masters that concluded on Sunday.

Porteous staged a mighty show in Karen to beat compatriot Brandon Stone on sudden death play-off to lift the Open diadem in 2015.

Guido, the current holder of Kenya Open title following his victory in 2019, is already breathing fire after finishing second at the  Commercial Bank of Qatar Masters.

He hopes to replicate the same when he lands in Kenya for the Karen contest.

Gagli, the winner of Kenya Open in 2018, was equally in Doha where he finished 28th overall in the Qatar Masters.

As the past champions jet in, local pros led by Professional Golfers of Kenya captain C.J Wangai have insisted it is their time to shine.

According to Wangai, the former champions and other foreign players  have zero probability of scooping the cup due to a number of reasons.

“They have not had the time to play competitive golf because of Covid-19. They have been holed up in their homes because of the pandemic.

“But here in Kenya, we have been playing  all the year round.

“The Safari Tour series has helped us to build fitness and stamina ahead of Kenya Open.

“Our game and scores have tremendously improved. I believe one player from Kenya will lift either the Kenya Open or the Savannah Classic,” Wangai said. [Ochieng Oyugi]

The sentiments by the Sigona resident golfer were echoed by Windsor’s Rizwan Charania who has advised local pros to treat Kenya Open like any other event.

“There’s no need of stage fright. We are all familiar with Karen. We only need to be tough mentally and the trophy will be ours,” Charania said.