INDIZA LEADS LOCALS CHARGE:Local golfers expected to do well as Kenya Open tourney moves to Muthaiga Golf Club

The 49th edition of Barclays Bank Kenya Open Golf Championship was launched in Nairobi yesterday.

The high profile international event is slated for March 23-26 at the green lush par 72 Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi.

The championship has attracted 156 golfers from across the globe who has confirmed their participation.

Mumias based pro Dismas Indiza will lead a contingent of 26 local players including 22 pros and four amateurs in the chase for the elusive Sh3.5 million top prize that has always gone to players from outside Kenya every other season.

The event returns to Muthaiga, where it made its debut in 1967, from the Karen Country Club that has held it for the last five years.

Currently, preparations for the tournament are in top gear at Muthaiga with organisers expecting an increase in attendance due to a number of factors including ease of accessibility to the venue.

In order to make the 49th edition attractive and colourful, title sponsors Barclays yesterday injected Sh50million sponsorship into the tournament.

The sponsorship makes Barclays be the title sponsors for the tournament for a seventh consecutive year making them the longest serving sponsors since the tournament’s inception.

While handing over the sponsorship cheque to the Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) officials yesterday, Barclays Bank of Kenya Managing Director Jeremy Awori said: “Today we are announcing total investment for Sh50million for next year’s event all of which will go towards building the profile of the tournament with a special focus on making the fans experience better and more interactive event.”

Awori added further: “This goes to illustrate our commitment and dedication to the growth and development of golf in the country through the tournament.”

KOGL chairman Peter Kanyago assured that a more competitive Kenyan team would take part in the tournament next year.

“As a away of strengthening the local team, we have invited a team of European Challenge Tour officials who are currently taking our local pros through paces on and off the pitch.

The sessions have attracted 22 pros who were selected by the Professional Golfers of Kenya Association for the skills and technique-training at Muthaiga,” Kanyago said.

Kanyago noted that the tournament is expected to rake in a record attendance of over 10,000 spectators due to its growth in statures all through the years.

Next year’s edition will be preceded by a Pro-Am tournament that will also be sponsored by Barclays Bank to give the Kenyan amateurs an opportunity to play with and learn from the best in the sport from all over the globe.