Safari Tour to tee off in Limuru next month

Safari Tour Series winner Greg Snow. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Safari Tour 2020/21 season was launched yesterday in Nairobi with the first event set for Limuru Country Club early next month.

Kenya Open Golf Limited through its tournament director, Patrick Obath, said the first leg will be on October 4-7 at the 18-hole course.

“The members of the Safari Tour have been keen to resume active competition since the suspension of all sports activities,” said Obath.

“Professional golfers love the game. As we start this third season of the Safari Tour with the challenges of the pandemic, we want to give hope to our members and continue growing the sport in Africa.”

The move comes a week after Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed issued guidelines on resumption of sporting activities.

“The 2020/21 season of Safari Tour will have a minimum of ten events with at least one each played in Uganda and Rwanda. There will be eight tournaments in Kenya and each of the ten events with a minimum pay out of Sh1 million.

Top 12 players will earn places in the Magical Kenya Open set for March next year at the Karen Country Club. No caddies will take part.

Muthaiga Golf Club's Greg Snow tees - off in the first round of the ninth leg of 2019/2020 Safari Tour Series at Sigona Golf Club, January 26, 2020. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

In addition, local and foreign professionals will be required to produce the latest Covid-19 certificate.

“This has been a difficult time for entire sports fraternity across the world. We are grateful to the Kenya Open Golf Limited for announcing the start of the Safari Tour. This is the best news that we as professional golfers have received in a long time.” said John Wangai, captain of the Professional Golfers of Kenya.

Meanwhile, Austrian Sepp Straka soared with an eagle and five birdies Thursday to join a four-way tie for the lead on seven-under 65 in the US PGA Tour's Corales Puntacana Championship.

Tyler McCumber had six birdies and an eagle and got as low as eight-under.