Indiza aims for a clean swing at Kenya Open

Kenya's Professional Golfer Dismas Indiza from Mumias makes a swing in a past event. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

After missing the cut in the last two editions, hard-hitting Dismas Indiza believes he has put his house in order ahead of this year’s Magical Kenya Open set to tee-off at Karen Golf and Country Club, in Nairobi, on March 12.

His mission is to improve on his 13th place finish he posted at the prestigious European Tour event, in 2007.

“I failed to proceed to the next round in 2018 and 2019 because I lacked stable sponsorship, but I’m determined to overcome the challenge this season,” he told Standard Sports.

Just to prove his determination, the 50-year-old has a daily training session at his base in Mumias.

He practices six to eight hours a day at the Mumias Golf Club.

“I do range work in my home town from Monday to Friday then proceed for my tournaments in Kakamega at the weekends,” he said.

“I have worked on my shots, putts and my ability to navigate the dense greens and fairways is amazing. I believe I’m fit for the Open challenge.”

He is glad the tight schedule has already paid off after he emerged overall winner of the Safari Tour Series that ended in Nairobi last Wednesday.

By topping the series, he qualified for this year’s Kenya Open alongside nine other local pros including Muthaiga’s Greg Snow, Justus Madoya, Simon Ngige, among others.

Even though the series was expanded to other East African states including Tanzania and Uganda, Indiza believes it was still not enough to prepare Kenyan golfers for the tough Open that normally attracts finest players from around the globe.

It is on this note that he is urging the government and stakeholders involved, to organise for local pros challenges, which will help them counter the best from the continent and beyond.

“I was able to finish 13th overall in 2007 because of the full sponsorship package I was receiving from Mumias Sugar.

“With Sh3 million I was entitled to annually, I was able to compete in South Africa, Nigeria and Rwanda in the Sunshine and the Challenge tours where I met the best from Africa.

“I’m positive I will land another support soon as I am not planning to retire from the game.”

Indiza has already planned to travel to Nairobi this Friday to familiarise himself with the par 72 Karen Course where the Open would be held.

“Climate in Mumias and Nairobi is totally different, so I will be in the city early enough to acclimatise ahead of the championship.

“With the kind of preparation, I’m focused for a top ten finish in Karen,” he said.