Team Kenya ready for regional tourney

Kibugu Mutahi of Muthaiga Golf Club. [File]

The Kenya national golf team to East African Challenge 2017 leaves for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Gymkhana Club on Tuesday.

Team Kenya joins five other countries from the East African region, namely Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia, for battle for the coveted East Africa Golf trophy.

According to Kenya Golf Union, the eight-man team consisting of six senior players and two juniors were selected based on the current Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) ranking and Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) Order of merit.

They are Alfred Nandwa (Railways), Samuel Njoroge (Railway), Edwin Mudanyi (Vet), Mike Kisia (Vet), John Karichu (Limuru) and Dennis Saikwa (Royal).

The Juniors are Agil Is Hag of Nyali Golf Club and Muthaiga’s Mutahi Kibugu.

The team will be accompanied by the chairman of Kenya Golf Union Richard Wanjala and head of delegation and team coach John Van Liefland.

Kenya, which has won the event a record twelve times since 1999 and tied with Uganda last year in Ethiopia, is expected to open up its rivalry in the event that kicks off from Wednesday August 22 to 26.

The format will involve four rounds of golf with singles, foursomes, four ball better ball and final singles during the last day.

Kenya Golf Union Chairman Richard Wanjalla yesterday exuded confidence that the national team is in high spirits and hopes to do better than last year.

The team has been training for the last one month under coach John Van Lief Land.

Each competing country fields eight players.