Top golfers now target Nyali Open silverware

By Maarufu Mohamed

Coast players are rubbing their hands with glee ahead of Nyali Open Golf Championship.

The par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club Course in Mombasa will be the venue of the event, marking its 52^nd edition.

Club Captain D. Mulli announced yesterday that the two days 54 holes tournament will be played tomorrow and Sunday over three rounds. This will be the season-ender to determine Kenya’s top amateur player in the Kenya Golfer of the Year (Goty) series.

“The course is in excellent condition and ready to host the tournament,” said Mulli.

The first and second rounds of 36 holes will be played on Saturday and the final rounds of 18 holes will be played on Sunday.

Nyali International Beach Resort is sponsoring the Championships organized by the Kenya Golf Union, and Spa while the Keringet waters sponsors the Goty series.

During the event, Division one will feature men with handicap 12 and below for the main series that will also see golfers qualify for World Golf Ranking.

 Division two for the Nyali Trophy will be open to all players, men, women and juniors with a handicap 13 to 24, who will play 18 holes off stableford points on Sunday.

The KGU series was started in 1981 to rank the country’s top amateur golfers and attracts a selection of players, across both amateur and professional ranks.

It is also including caddies as young as 18-years-old, as well as seasoned golfers. It brings together Kenya’s top amateur golfers in an 18-event series spread across the country.

To play in the Keringet Golfer of the Year tournament, golfers must have at least a single handicap. The series, which comprises 18 tournaments, runs through the year.

It opens doors for young golf amateurs, who not only go on to play against professionals in the Kenya Open but are selected into the national men’s golfing team.

David Opati of Golf Park will be crowned the Golfer of the Year 2012 Champion on Sunday.

Currently, Opati leads the series on 102.10 points after the Uhuru Shield tournament at Royal Nairobi Club, 25 points over his closest rival Nelson Simwa of Vet Lab, who stands on 76.75 points.

Others leading in the series are Mathews Omondi (60.50), Joseph Karanja (57.60), JC Wangai (54.00), Tony Muli (51.60), Anthony Kinuthia (39.50), Justus Madoya (35.50), J  Sandhu (26.75), Robinson Owiti (24.50).

Host Nyali has a strong team of International juniors that includes Daniel Nduva, John Mburu and Mathews Wahome.