Top Amateurs face off in Malindi Open

Malindi’s Joseph Sulubu.[Maarufu Mohamed, Standard].

It will be a Kenyan battle for the Country’s leading Amateurs who will be pitching camp at the nine-hole par 70 Malindi Golf and Country Golf course in Kilifi in the second edition of the 2023 Malindi Open Golf Championships from tomorrow, Friday.

The 54 holes stroke play “Vasco Da Gama Cup” tourney will be played for three days with 18 holes each day and will this time see the absence of their usual rival foreign colleagues especially from Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda who will be missing in action following lack of sponsors for the majority.

It will now be a field day for the Kenyans salivating to grab the “Vasco Da Gama Trophy”, gain points to the World Amateur Ranking (WAGR) and even have a share of the Ksh.520, 000 fat Cash prizes in offer for the top 20 leaders.  

The event which is one of the ongoing Kenya Golf Union (KGU) organized 26  series is limited to 78 players with 18.3 handicap index and below and is being jointly sponsored by Family Bank,Khushi Motors, County Government of Kilifi and Wemark.

The events’ defending  Champion Michael Alunga of Uganda is said to have received a Golf Scholarship to the United States  and will not  be  available while his colleagues Ibrahim Bagalana,Godfrey Nsubuga,and Andrew Ssekibejja have failed  to get sponsors just like  their Tanzanian colleagues.

Last year’s runners up Isaack Makhoha  of Vet lab  and third placed Sammy Mulama  from  Golf Park  will now have  to  face  it off with the  current  Kenya one Amateur Michael Karanga of Kiambu,Railway’s John Lejirma and Limuru’s Dennis Maara among others.

They may experience strong heat challenges from local Coast veteran golfers like Eric Nyongesa, Gurbux Singh alongside Henry Kamau from Mombasa golf club and Nyali’s Solomon Majanga and Omar Lewa while the hosting club has lined up Walter Okoth and Joseph Sulubu.

The tourney that will see Mwongei Nzioka as Chief Referee will also have three Ladies Joyce Wanjiru of Kiambu, Jackline Walters from Vipingo and home based Zipporah Gitonga.

The two ladies Wanjiru and Gitonga all played in last week’s Ladies Coast Open in various Coast Club’s while Waters played the first event at Dani’s Diamond Leisure Course but unfortunately disqualified her in the middle after an abrupt shoulder injury and was rushed to the nearest hospital.

Malindi Golf club Captain Walter Juma  thanked KGU for bring the event back to Malindi  and said the club’s Management has worked round the clock  to  ensure an enjoyable,  successful  back to back event after the Ladies Coast Open played last Friday.

“We are ready to welcome all the players and guests and give them our assurance the championship course is in excellent condition following the recent rains, “said Juma.

The Captain said Malindi is a touristic town   and urged the golfers and guests to enjoy the game and also find time to explore the beauty of the town.

KGU Chairman Philip Ochola who expected to grace the prize-giving ceremony alongside his team  thanked Malindi Club for ensuring the course met all  the standard and that they are all looking forward to a successful event and a tour  of the Touristic town.  

Malindi Golf and Country Club is located to the north of Malindi town, off the Lamu Road and was founded in 1962.

The  Sea-level golf course that features the course tees and additional greens on the second nine, has six par threes, eight par fours and four par fives, with finely contoured greens and nestled alongside the sand dunes of Malindi’s seaside.

It also features large broad lush fairways with forgiving roughs, bordering a series of indigenous forests and wetlands on all sides.

VASCO DA GAMA CUP DRAW-DAY ONE-FRIDAY

AM;

07:30, E. Brian, Z. Gitonga; 07:40, V. Nyauche , K. Mutai, N. Ngweno; 07:50, R. Leming'ani, W. Odeck, Eng. M. Owiti; 08:00, V. Ziletti, J. Walter, S. Changawa; 08:10, J. Rono, E. Limo, K. Pohland; 08:20, K. Choyo, E. Barno, A. Duckworth; 08:30, F. Kimanzi, E. Carrara, G. Mburu; 08:40, B. Angelico, S. Orinda, H. Kamau; 08:50, l. zangari, J. Sulubu, I. Makokha; 09:00, T. Singh, K. Juma, J. Timbe; 09:10, W. Juma, S. Majanga, C. Owuor; 09:20, R.  Ndoro, A. Odongo, F.Kenga;

PM;

11:40, J. Lejirma, A. Ogola, W. Okoth; 11:50, M. Oloo, J. Komu, N. Koech; 12:00, J. Wanjiru, T. Ole Kina, O. Lewa; 12:10, M.Mwangi, K. Mwaro, C. Wambasi; 12:20, J. Wanjiru, F. Kipyator, S. Mumbi; 12:30, A. Kitur, E. Zuliani, S.Mulama; 12:40, H. Akello, N. Nderitu, E. Otieno; 12:50, B. Wasige, J. Koina, M. Karanga; 13:00, E. Nyongesa 7.5, D. Maara, G. Singh.