Golf: 20 pros for Invitational Memorial meet in Nyeri

20 professional golfers converge at the par-72 Nyeri Club course today and tomorrow for the first edition of the invitational BG Ndegwa Memorial Golf Tournament.

The golf meet has attracted a huge field of 168 golfers drawn up in the continuous draw, which tees off at 11:00am today for the Clubnite-ProAm as-well-as on Saturday.

The tournament is in memory of the late Benjamin Githinji Ndegwa an avid golfer in his heydays having played and been a member of the Nyeri Club for over 40 years before his demise in 2009.

Presenting the two day event are; BG Ndegwa Family, Semiconductors Technologies Limited, Craig Sports International and RiverCross Tracking Limited.

Among the contingent of pros gunning for a share of the Sh250, 000 prize pot are; pro David Wakhu who has been enjoying good form in the Safari Tour series, Tony Omuli, Jacob Okello, Joseph Karanja, pro Boniface Koskei and Erick Ooko all from Golf Park Golf Course.

Others are; Kenya Railways Golf Club’s duo of pro Samuel Njoroge and Njuguna Ngugi, Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s Kenneth Bollo, Vet Labs Sports Club quartet of Edwin Mudanyi, Boniface Simwa, Mathew Omondi and Dismus Indiza.

As well as Professional Golfers of Kenya skipper CJ Wangai, Thika Sports Clubs’ Sullivan Muthugia, Simon Ngige, there will be Kopan Timbe of Thika Greens Golf Resort, Andrew Chelogoi from Eldoret Club.

Nakuru Golf Club’s Richard Ainley, who has been trying to find back his bearing on the local tour lately will be present.

 Leading the top amateur pack to the mountain raid will be Golf Parks’ Raphael Lemighani, Josephat Rono, Nancy Wairimu, Sammy Mulama, Peter Macharia, Winne Mumbua and Simon Karari.

It won’t be an easy sail for them though as they will be up against stiff challenge from long-hitting home rookie, Mathew Ndegwa, playing off scratch and who will be enjoying home course advantage spiced up with local knowledge of the course.

Equally, +2 Peter Rimui of Nanyuki Sports Club who has been putting up a consistent showing at the Golfer of the Year KGU events will be out to prove his mettle, being a regular player in Nyeri Club course.

With the course playing long due to heavy rains that have been pounding the region in the recent past, the tournament organisers have put in place marshals on the nine-hole course to hasten play during the event, which will be played under the stableford format of play.

Pros, who shoot under on either days are assured of good earnings from the meet which will also have a brand new Sh50,000 Titleist PS1 driver up for grabs as the top prize under the amateur category courtesy of Craigs Sports International.

There will be lots of mbuzi choma throughout the day for golfers in attendance while the presentation ceremony will be held between 7:00 and 8:00pm on both days.