Top players set to light up third leg of Standard County Series

Nyanza Golf Club resident pro David Odhiambo in action at a past tournament. He will be playing at the Standard Golf Classic in Kisumu on June 4, 2022. [Courtesy] 

The third leg of the Standard County Golf Classic Series will tee off at the par 70 Nyanza Golf Club in Kisumu this morning.

The first batch off the tee-box at 7am will be the club resident pro David Odhiambo, K.Nyangaga, J.Omolo and J.Odero.

The contingent of P.Sembi, B.Bhamra, R.Sandhu and T. Omore will follow 15 minutes later.

The team comprising of Standard Group PLC Chief Executive Officer Orlando Lyomu, T. Odongo, K.Ndegwa and S.Amusala tees off at 11am.

“I’m so excited. It will be my first time playing in the tournament. I was busy preparing for the Magical Kenya Open when the championship was here in 2019,” Odhiambo told Standard Sports.

The 50-year-old hard hitter has been training at the green lush course overlooking Lake Victoria since Monday.

“I have been doing range work in the morning and playing a nine-hole game in the afternoon as part of my preparation,” Odhiambo said.

The father of three can’t take home any of the exciting prizes on offer in the tournament though, which includes a return airticket to any destination in Kenya, offered by local carrier Jambojet, in case he emerges victorious in the championships. This is because the prizes are reserved for amateur golfers.

Kisumu based professional Golfer David Odhiambo in action at the park 70 Standard county Golf classic series at Nyanza Club on Saturday, June 04, 2022.[ Samson Wire. Standard]

“Nonetheless, I’m ready to offer my skills and expertise to budding players and Standard Group customers and staff during the competition,” said Odhiambo who has been a pro at the club since 2006.

The former Kenya Amateur Strokeplay champion is predicting the course to play tough due to the wet weather conditions at the lake region.

“Golf is also about luck, however, they should prepare well. They should give the greens and the fairways some tactical approach,” he said.

The former Uganda Open champion has given out his blow to blow account of some of the most difficult holes in the nine-hole course.

He advises new players to be wary of par 4 hole 3 which is near the Kisumu-Maseno Road.

“Here, the ball is likely to go out of bounds. Par 3 hole 7 is surrounded by a bunker. If you get a par here then thank God. It’s not an easy hole. Par 3 hole 8 is going over the waters of River Kasat.

“This river swallows balls like crazy, so precision is a must in your hits.

“In general, the secret to winning this tournament is to score a par in all the par 3 holes,” he said.

Apart from Jambojet, other partners on board in the championships, whose theme is ‘On the green course, for the green cause’ are Space and Style, FMD East Africa and Mediheal Group of Hospitals.

In his hey days, Odhiambo had a successful year in 2002 season, winning high profile tournaments and shattering course records.

His major highlights include bagging the Uganda Open, Burundi Open and Kenya Amateur Strokeplay.

His major stint during his period in the national team (2000-2006) was leading Kenya to the East African Challenge Cup.

Odhiambo also prides himself for breaking course records at the Burundi Golf Club (five under par) in 2006, Karen Challenge (five under par) in 2002, Kinyara Golf Club (four under par) in 2006 and Nyanza Golf Club in 2004 and 2006.