LET CHASE FOR SH2.5M BEGIN: Kenya Open starts today as 156 golfers battle for honours

The 48th edition of Kenya Open golf championship tees off today at the par 72 Karen Country Club.

Kenya will be represented by 26 golfers, including four amateurs, in the four-day championship. Over 156 golfers have confirmed participation as they chase the Sh2.5m ultimate prize.

The tournament will also feature foreign amateurs for the first time after Ronald Otile from Uganda and Romain Langasque from France were drafted by the Kenya Golf Union.

The four local amateurs, who made the cut to the prestigious championship are John Karichu and John Kariuki from Limuru Country Club, Royal Nairobi golfer Kenneth Bollo and Nyali’s Mathew Wahome.

Karichu qualified for the Open after he won the 2015 Golfer of the Year (Goty) title, while Bollo is the current leader in this year’s GOTY. Kariuki is the amateur strokeplay championship winner.

Top junior golfer, South Africa-based Wahome was also included in the Open list. He won last year’s GOTY Junior series. 

Dismas Indiza, who finished 28th in last year’s tournament with a five under par 282, the best position by a local finisher, will lead local professionals in this year’s event. So far, Indiza’s best placing in the tournament was 10th overall in 2008.

But the hard-hitting Mumias golfer has pledged to do his best, saying he has already rectified mistakes that saw him drift away on the last day of the Open last year.

“I have done a lot of practice and as you can see, I am now doing the final touches,” said Indiza during his putting training at the venue on Tuesday.

Nakuru Club golfer Richard Ainley has also put his last year’s woes behind and is hopeful for a respectable finish this year.

“I am fine. My injuries have healed and I’m hopeful that this tournament is going to add a smile on my face,” Ainley said.

Other Kenyan professionals are Brian Njoroge, Mathew Omondi, Greg Snow, Simon Ngige, David Odhiambo, Erick Ooko, Boniface Simwa, Njuguna Ngugi, Nelson Simwa, David Wakhu, John Wangai, Frank Matilo, James Karanja, Tony Omuli, David Opati, Jacob Okello, Sullivan Muthugia, Riz Charania, Ally Orende and Justus Madoya.

This year’s Open will be without defending champion, South African Haydn Porteous. But other players to watch are Andrea Pavan (Italy), Dominic Foos (Germany), Max Orrin (United Kingdom), Clement Sordet (France) and Mads Sogaard (Denmark), who have also been listed by the European Challenge Tour officials as this year’s Kenya Open favourite.

Barclays Bank are the title sponsors with Sh30m. Other sponsors are Coca Cola (Sh15m), Hemingways Holdings (Sh2.7m) and Safaricom (Sh5m).