Thika Sports Club hard-hitter Ngige eyes good show at Kenya Open

Many players are spending sleepless nights as 2021 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship dates draw nearer.

The anxiety is coupled with the lucrative 1.1 million Euros prize money for the European Tour event to be held at Karen Golf and Country Club in Nairobi next month.

Despite the restlessness on air, Thika Sports club hard hitter Simon Ngige is not shaken.

“The ‘jackpot’ prize is motivating enough but I’m not focused on it. My concentration is on the pitch, I’m working out to improve my performance,” Ngige told Standard Sports.

The 32-year old insists he has stuck to his game plan which he is perfecting now despite the high level of distractions around.

“If you think about the money, you won’t make the cut,” he warned.

“My secret for making it to the next round four times in my nine attempts is based on focus and sticking with the master plan,” he said.

His strategy is to improve on his 24th place finish in the last edition of the Kenya Open.

“Jastas Madoya and I were the only local pros who made the cut the last time. I believe I will do the same this year and perhaps go ahead to win the competition even though my realistic hope is to finish in top ten,” he underscored.

The father of two achieved most of his fitness ahead of the Open from the 2019 Safari Tour Series where he bagged second place overall behind Mumias pro Dismas Indiza.

He admits that local professionals improved their skills from the series that has brought together players from East African states and Zimbabwe.

“The circuit has given us experience, I can confidently tip Kenyans for more round qualification at the forthcoming Open.

“Five or six of us will make the cut if not all,” he highlighted.

Currently, Ngige is working on his putts and strokes at his Thika base to fine-tune his swings.

“My hits are better than last season. My confidence level has greatly improved,” he stated.

He is also following another schedule involving hitting 100 balls at the range on Mondays.

He plays 18-hole game on Tuesdays which he tops with striking another 100 balls at the range.

He putts on the greens and perfects his bunker shots and short game on Wednesdays.

His Thursdays are reserved for another short game. He has nine-hole games on Fridays.