Magical Kenya Open: It's finally time to tee-off and kiss trophy at Muthaiga

Yusuf Omari, the Interim CEO at ABSA Bank Kenya PLC tees off during the Magical Kenya Open 2023 Pro-Am event at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course on March 09, 2023. [Stafford Ondego, Standard] The 54th edition of Magical Kenya Open (MKO) tees-off today morning at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi with 156 players in contention for the lucrative Sh252 million purse money on offer. Kenya's new inclusion C.J Wangai will be in the first batch off the tee-box alongside Tom Murray of England and Borja Virto of Spain at 7.10am. The trio will be followed ten minutes later by the second flight of Samuel Njoroge, Alexander Knappe (Germany) and Calum Hill (Scotland). Following the latest inclusion of Wangai in the national golf team, Kenya will now be represented in the DP World Tour event by nine pros and six amateurs. The pros are Wangai, Njoroge, Jastas Madoya, Greg Snow, Mike Kisia, Mutahi Kibugu, Simon Ngige, Dismas Indiza and Daniel Nduva. The amateurs are Njoroge Kibugu, John Lejirma, Jay Sandhu, Dennis Maara, Daniel Kiragu and Adel Balala. The Kenyan pros have been motivated by Absa Bank Kenya to wrestle the world beaters who have descended at Muthaiga to look for glory including tournament defending champion Ashun Wu of China and previous winners Justin Harding of South Africa (2021) and Lorenzo Gagli of Italy (2018). Apart from giving each of the Kenyan pros Sh300,000 for logistics, Absa have pledged Sh500,000 to each player who makes the cut tomorrow and a further Sh1 million to any local player who ends the tournament in the top ten. "I'm now more than motivated for a top 20 finish. I'm already aiming for the cut and if possible I will go for victory but I know this is such a tall order," Indiza told Standard Sports. Chinese pro golfer Ashun Wu tees off during the Magical Kenya Open 2023 Pro-Am event at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course on March 09, 2023. [Stafford Ondego, Standard] Likewise, the Kenyan amateurs were not left out in the inspiration spree as Kenya Golf Union took them for a lifetime experience in South Africa where they engaged in high profile training ahead of the global showpiece. Also mobile services providers Safaricom have boosted the six amateurs with Sh1.1 million to cater for their logistics. Tournament Director, Patrick Obath has so far tipped Snow, Nduva and Madoya to make the cut tomorrow saying the trio have been so consistent in the last one year. Last season, Njoroge, the brother to Mutahi, was the only Kenyan who made it to the money bracket in the competition. The brothers are expected to spice up the tournament by displaying their perennial sibling rivalry. Other players across Africa to feature in the event are Zimbabwe trio of Visitor Mapwanya, Robson Chinhoi and Follett Smith alongside Ronald Rugumayo from Uganda. During the tournament, all the players will have a unique chance to lift a BMW X5 car at the par-3 Hole 13 where the Hole-In -One prize is located courtesy of Inchape Kenya. Other corporates on board with support to the competition are Absa Bank Kenya (Sh70 million), Safaricom (Sh11 million), Betika (Sh1 million) and Titleist (7,400 high quality golf balls). The contesting players are warned to expect very tough conditions on the pristine Muthaiga course as Kenya's capital Nairobi is currently experiencing hot, dry, sunny and windy weather. The 2023 MKO will be more than a golf event as it will feature high end fashions, mouth watering food, models, variety of drinks and top notch entertainment led by some of the finest Kenyan Djs and artistes at the thrilling Games Village. This article was written by Ochieng Oyugi

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Magical Kenya Open: It's finally time to tee-off and kiss trophy at Muthaiga

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