Pros return to action at Railway Club, Nyanza host Diwali tourney

By Maarufu Mohamed and Philip Orwa

More than 36 local professional golfers will be in action at the three-day Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Pro Am event that began on Thursday at Railway Golf Club.

Charan Thethy, the immediate former PGK Chairman and coordinator of the event sponsored by friends of Kenya Railways Golf Club and Salmer Fitness Centre, said the event will act as a build up for the local pros ahead of Kenya Open Golf Championships in February, next year.

“The pros will be playing for a total of Sh2 million with the overall winner taking home Sh400, 000. There is an appearance fee of Sh10, 000 per player in addition to the prize money, so no player will go home empty handed,” said Charania.

He added: “Tournament sponsors have also invited the top 10 amateurs going by the Golfer of The Year rankings to play alongside the professionals.”

The event is expected to be an acid test for James Karanja who turned professional after winning the Mumias Golf Series tournament in his first event as a professional.

Other players who will be in action are this season’s Order of Merit winner Nicholas Rokoine, Nelson Mudanyi who turned professional recently after returning from a golf course in the US and Dismas Indiza.

Meanwhile, the par 70 Nyanza Golf Club will host Diwali Golf Day this weekend.

Diwali the, Festival of lights, is one of the biggest festivals of India. The word Diwali means ‘row of lamps’.
It is one of the main festivals that falls under Hinduism and is celebrated to commemorate the victory of good over the evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

Elsewhere, Kenya Orient Insurance, on Thursday signed a contract to sponsor the 2012 Limuru Captain’s prize to a tune of Sh1.5 million.

“This partnership further demonstrates the company’s commitment towards supporting sports in Kenya. Kenya Orient Insurance has for the past three years sponsored the Kenya Orient Mini Marathon at Parklands sports club and for the past four years the Limuru Ladies Open. Kenya Orient makes a point of connecting with the golfing fraternity whenever we open a branch in a new region.”

 “We are excited about sponsoring the 2012 Limuru Captain’s prize and we look forward to contributing more to the development of sports in our country” said Muema Muindi – Managing Director of Kenya Orient Insurance during the signing ceremony on Thursday in Nairobi.

The 2012 Captain’s prize will be held at Limuru Golf Club on November 24.