Kenyan pros to face acid test at Karen Masters

Greg Snow makes a swing. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Kenya’s professional golfers will be put on a litmus test as they battle some of the world’s best golfers at this year’s 2019 KCB Karen Masters golf tournament that kicks off at the par 72 Karen Country Club in Nairobi today.

The event, which has attracted 158 professional golfers from Africa and Europe, kicked off yesterday with the Pro-am and will end on Saturday.

Kenya’s Dismas Indiza, Greg Snow and Simon Ngige are expected to lead the 30-man squad unveiled by Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) last week, which came after the conclusion of the KCB Road to Karen Masters at Royal Club.

PGK captain CJ Wangai said the reserve list has Anil Shah, Kevin Mabele, Charan Thethy (Royal Club Nairobi) and Limuru’s JM Karanja.

Wangai, who is another local star to watch, earned the Kenya team slot after topping the Road to Karen Masters series ahead of Muthaiga’s Greg Snow.

“Our team is set for the Masters. We have sharpened our skills and improved on our game including putting and swinging. We are ready,” said Wangai.

Also in the team is former Kenya Amateur Golf Champion Edwin Mudanyi who turned professional this year.

Thika’s Simon Ngige and Rift Valley’s Justus Madoya got automatic qualification slots at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open.

Three players in Mumias based Dismas Indiza, Sigona’s Mohit Mediratta and Rizwan Charan were exempted from the qualifying rounds as they gained automatic entry at the 2018 Karen Masters.

KCB are the title sponsors. Others are Standard Group, Toyota Kenya, Safaricom, Johny Walker and Serengeti.

The KCB Karen Masters, now in its third edition, joined the Sunshine Tour in 2018 and stands out as the second biggest golfing event in the country after the European Tour Kenya Open.

KCB Bank Kenya Head of Corporate Banking Timothy Kuria said they are using golf to promote sports tourism.

“On behalf of KCB Bank, I welcome you to the 2019 KCB Karen Masters. Come join the master of swing in what promises to be a week of great golfing action,” said Kuria.

The 2019 KCB Karen Masters will offer an increased prize kitty of South African rand 2m (Sh15m), up from South African rand 2m (Sh13.57) in 2018, making it one of the most lucrative tournaments in the Sunshine Tour.

The Sunshine Tour has sent 100 professional golfers who are based in South Africa who include defending champion Michael Palmer, currently ranked 23rd in the Sunshine Tour rankings.

Others are nine of the top ten players on the tour ranking that include Daniel Van Tonder, JC Ritchie, Callum Mowat, Garrick Higgo, Martin Rohwer, Thriston Lawrence, Neil Schietekat, Jacques Blaauw and Steve Surry.

Uganda has also sent top professional in Abraham Ainemani together with Phillip Kasozi, Deo Akope, Brian Toolit, Herman Mutawe and Ronald Rugumayo.

Zimbabwean Ryan Cairns, who won a Toyota Prado at last year’s tourney after sinking a hole-in-one on the 5th holes, is in contention.

Time will tell if Cairns charm will work again to have him win back to back victories this year as Toyota Kenya has again offered a fifth-generation 2019 Toyota RAV4. It's up for grabs to any golfer who hits a hole-in-one at the same par three-whole five.

Toyota Kenya’s Strategic Marketing Manager Caroline Githii expressed her delight in the company’s return to par 72 Karen Country Club, saying the tournament provided an opportunity to demonstrate their continuous efforts to develop products that match customers’ needs.

“It is exciting to see the growth of golf events as we continue driving towards growing golf tourism to the global stage," said Githii.