Kenyan golfers in uphill task against Tanzanians

By Maarufu Mohamed

Kenyan golfers face un uphill task against Tanzanians in the hunt for this year’s ‘Green Jacket’ during the annual Diani Beach Masters (DBM) Golf Tournament which tees off on Saturday at the par 72 Leisure Lodge Golf Resort in South Coast, Mombasa.

Club’s golf coordinator Agamu Busaka disclosed yesterday that the two-day 36 holes tournament has attracted 128 top amateur golfers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

"More than 48 golfers of handicap nine and below will battle it our for the DBM green jacket, while 80 golfers of handicap 20 and below will compete in the Subsidiary Butterfly Freedom Class Stable ford competition," said Busaka.

George Kuria during the AON MNet Insurance Company-sponsored golf tournament at Karen County Club at the weekend. [PHOTOS: STAFFORD ONDEGO/STANDARD]

Registration closed yesterday and the shootout competition will be staged tomorrow from 5.30pm at the driving range of the course.

Defending champs

The Tanzanians, led by the country’s Golf President Dioniz Malinzi, are the defending champions and have entered 15 players with handicap 9 in the gross competition.

They include John Leonce, Jimmy Mollel, Eliasante Lembri, and Adam Mwanyenza. Eleven of the Tanzanians players with handicap 20 and below will be battling it out in the stable ford competition.

Kenyans expected to give the Tanzanians a run for their money includes US-based Abdul Sihag, Kenya national junior golfer George Munyao (Nyali), international Collins Omondi (Muthaiga), G Mara (Limuru Golf Club), W Atuka, P Onyango, Hamadi Bakari (Nyali), A Kamau (Leisure Golf Club), N R Shah (Kitale Golf Club), and D Ndirangu (Kiambu Golf Club).

Kenya’s Stefan Anderssen who was last year’s runner up will not be playing since he returned to South Africa last Sunday to complete his first year at the University of Pretoria Golf Academy.

Excellent condition

"I’m a member of the University of Pretoria Elite Squad and will be representing the university at the forthcoming Universities of South Africa Golf Championships to be played at Wingate Golf Club and Centurion Country clubs in December,’’ said Anderssen.

Tanzania’s Bryson Nyenza, who was the winner last year, has turned professional but is expected to dress up this year’s winner of the Masters with the ‘Green Jacket’ he won last year.

Leisure Lodge Beach resort CEO John Mutua said the course, which is one of the most interesting golf safari courses in the country, is in excellent condition ready for the two-day competition.

The Diani Beach Masters, is one of the major events in the Kenya Golf Union calendar of events that counts towards the Golfer of Year Awards and is fully sponsored by Kenya Data Net works.

It has not been confirmed whether members of the Kenya national team, led by captain Francis Kimani, Boniface Simwa, Collins Omondi and Sullivan Muthugia, will be participating in the event.

They returned to the country last Sunday after finishing second to South Africa in the just concluded Africa Amateur Championships in Egypt.

 

 

Read all about: Diani Leisure Lodge Golf Resort South Coast Mombasa

 

 

---