Golfers battle for top honours at Nyali Open

Nyali Club Captain Dinesh Sasan. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard].

An estimated 156 top leading amateurs will be battling the harsh Coastal heat in this year's Nyali Open Championship golf tournament that tees off at the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club Course in Mombasa County on Friday.

This Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) that will run for three days has attracted top leading Kenya amateurs and their colleagues from outside the country with a prize kitty money of Sh519,000 and also marks the finals of this year’s Kenya Golf Union (KGU) organised calendar of events.

KGU Coast representative Eric Nyongesa has welcomed the golfers with his sponsored club nite tournament tomorrow that is expected to give the players a chance to get a feel of the course.

KGU Chairman Philip Ochola said they are thrilled to be back in Mombasa for this much awaited Club tournament that will determine Kenya’s top golf amateur in the Kenya golfer of the year (GOTY) series while others will seek to gain entry to the forthcoming 2024 Magical Kenya Open Championship.

“This KGU 2022 series has been successfully played through the year from January in various clubs around the country and 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 golf team," Ochola said.

He said the series was started in 1981 to rank the country’s top amateur golfers and attracts a selection of players, across both amateur including caddies as young as 18 years, as well as seasoned golfers.

Host club captain Dinesh Sasan in a notice sent to all golfers yesterday said Nyali tournament is open to all golfers but that the competition committee reserves the right to amend the terms of competition.

”We are pleased to inform you that, the Handicap Index required for the Nyali Open has been revised to Index 15.4 and below.

“To that end both Male and Lady Golfers with Handicap Index of 15.4 and below register via the link earlier provided on a first come first served basis. Please note that Nyali Open Entries will close today on Wednesday the 6th December 2023 at 12:00 (noon),”said Sasan.

He further said that those registered for Gross category will play over 3 day from Friday to Sunday and the nett category shall play over 2 days on Saturday and Sunday but warned that only one category can be entered.

“Those playing 54 Holes Stroke play shall be played over 3 rounds of 18-holes each day and there will be a cut after Round two of the championship where only the top 48 players and ties will proceed to the final round, “said The Captain.

He explained that there will be Two (2) Subsidiary Competitions which will be played over Saturday and Sunday and also the Inter-Club Competition for the Team Winners and Team Runners Up.

Sasan said Men will play off course two while Ladies will be playing off course four and that Courtesy of the course for practice rounds will be allowed on Wednesday 6th December 2023 to participants only.

The Captain, flanked by his Club Green Keeper George Choge said all preparations had been put in place and assured the Golfers that they will enjoy their rounds of golf despite the current hot Coastal weather.

“This 6510 yards course has always been in excellent condition following the recent rains and we promise the golfers that they will be enjoying playing on a well-groomed course and a real championship layout with impeccable greens, “said the Officials.

Players to watch include Kiambu’s Michael Karanga who has this year won the KGU series more than ten times and Kenya Railway’s John Lejirma.

But they expect to face tough rivals from the Coast that includes single handicappers, Henry Kamau, William Kaguta, Wlliam Odeck, Dickson Barasa and others that includes veterans like Eric Nyongesa and Gurbux Singh.