Golf-action moves to Karen course as KCB tourney kicks off-sports-golf

Karen Country Club Captain Anthony Murage (left) receive a dummy cheque from Director Regional Sales and Operations, Safaricom, Steve Okeyo during the 2nd Edition of the Karen Masters Tournament, scheduled to take place at Karen Country Club. July 11, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Action moves to the  par 72  Karen course  in Nairobi  where  30 Amateurs will be in contention for the  2018  Kenya Commercial bank (KCB) Karen Masters  golf tournament  that kicks from Today  (Tuesday).

The amateur golfers picked from the KCB Road to the five Masters qualification rounds from Ruiru, Limuru, Eldoret, Nyali and Muthaiga will partake the tourney as a curtain raiser towards the main event.

The main event that has attracted a field of 156 entries including 32 pros and 4 amateurs from Kenya runs from Thursday to Sunday.

This will be a Sunshine tour tourney with the title sponsor of the $150,000 (Ksh. ) from  Kenya Commercial Bank among others.

KCB Marketing and Communication Director Angela Mwirigi highlighted the importance of the event in Kenyan sports circles saying the KCB Karen Masters remains the Bank’s most visible vehicle to share the greatness of the sport.

“The tournament is on course to becoming the pre-eminent professional competition in East Africa. We expect a thrilling competition, and, hopefully, it will provide massive excitement for the fans,”Said Mwirigi.

Mumias long-hitting professional Dismas Indiza and Thika Sports Club resident pro Simon Ngige are among the local pros selected to represent Kenya.

Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Captain C.J. Wangai said the 32  local pros  who were selected through a local qualifying system  including himself representing Sigona  are  Railways Alfred Nandwa, Royal’s Anil Shah, Golf Park’s  Boniface Kosgey  and  Windsor’s  David Opati.

Others  are  Golf Park's David Wakhu , Royal’s veteran Elisha Kasuku ,Erick Ooko ,Muthaiga’s  Frank Matilo, Ganeev Giddie ,Royal’s Hesbon Kutwa and Golf park’s  Jacob Okello .

Boniface Simwa from Eldoret Club and Albert Orende from Vet Lab also make the squad alongside Jeff Kubwa of Muthaiga, Joseph Karanja Golf Park Resort, Justus Madoya of Green Park Resort, Ken Abuto of Royal Nairobi, Ken Bollo Royal Nairobi, Kevin Mabele Kenya Air Force, Kopan Timbe of Muthaiga, Matthew Omondi of Vet Lab  and Mohit Mediratta of Sigona who also make the team.

The rest  are  Nelson Mudanyi  from Muthaiga, Nelson    Simwa of Vet Lab, Nyali resident pro Ngugi Njuguna, Richar Ainley of Nakuru,  Rizwan Charania of Windsor, Sujan Shah of Sigona and Tony Omuli of Golf Park.

Kenya  golf Union  has selected Limuru’s  john Karichu  to leads four Kenyan amateur golfers  with others  being  the fast rising junior player Mutahi Kibugu of Muthaiga, Nyali's Daniel Nduva,  former multiple Limuru’s John Karichu and Vet Lab’s Edwin Mudanyi .

Among the top cream of the Sunshine Tour's best golfers in the tourney will be Matias Calderon (Chile), Ty Capps (USA), Frederik from (Sweden) and Antonio Rosado (Portugal) representing countries outside of the African continent.

For the first time, countries like  Ethiopia, Tanzania, Senegal, Rwanda, Malawi, Ghana and the Seychelles have representation in the tourney that  has attracted 22 countries of the world.

Zambia’s Madalitso Muthiya and Zimbabwean veterans Nick Price and Mark McNulty are legendary on the tour list   that has a large team of South African pros led by Thabang Simon.

This tourney is expected  to give Kenyan professional a second chance  after  their  recent disastrous play at the  Kenya open  that was won  by Italian  golfer Lorenzo Gagli.

Glance Box.

…Tuesday, 017th July 2018-Curtain raiser-30 Amateurs-Karen.

…..Thursday, 19 July 2018-Pro-Am-Karen.

…..Friday, 020th, July 2018-Pro-Am-Cut Off-Karen.

…..Saturday, 21 July 2018-Pro-Am.Karen….

….Sunday, 022nd July, 2018-Finals-Prize Giving-Karen