By Maarufu Mohamed
Kenya national golf team captain Francis Kimani leads his colleagues in the hunt of the 2010 "Green Jacket" in the 12th edition of the annual Diani Beach Masters tournament at the par 72 Leisure Lodge Resort course in South Coast of Mombasa today.
Kimani, a member of Limuru Golf Club and defending champion, said yesterday he is ready to defend the title.
The team of the 10 golfers, accompanied by their coach Ali Kimani, will be playing in the event as a qualification round for the forthcoming World Cup Amateur Championships.
They are Collins Omondi (Muthaiga), Boniface Simwa ( Muthaiga), Stefan Anderson (Muthaiga), James Karanja (Limuru), Tommy Omuli (Golf Park), Fredrick Nandwa (Muthaiga), Nelson Mudanyi (Muthaiga), David Opati (KGU) and Robert Owiti (Muthaiga).
Tausi Assurance Company is the main title sponsor of the two-days 36-hole tournament that has attracted 120 top amateurs from Kenya and Tanzania.
The Kenyans face an uphill task against a contingent of Tanzanians led by their golf President Dioniz Malinzi.
Those with lowest handicaps are Nuru Molel, Jimmy Mollel, Eliasante Lembri, John Said, Fred Michael, Frank Roman, Abbas Adam, Goddie Leverian, Idd Muzak and Mohabe Nyirabu and Said Mbwana.
Sixty golfers of handicap nine and below will battle for the Green Jacket (gross competition) while another 60 of handicap 20 and below will compete in the Subsidiary Stable ford competition.