Golf: Kenya launches Safari Tour series in preparation for the Kenya Open Championship

BARCLAYS KENYA OPEN 2015 GOLF TOURNAMENT Dismas Indiza of Kenya chip over a bunker during Barclays Kenya Open 2015 Golf tournament at Karen Golf Club on Thursday 09/04/15.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

Local golfers purring over Safari Tour

Kenya golfers welcome new series as Kenya Open attains European Tour status.

Golf Park’s star player Jacob Okello has praised the introduction of the Safari Tour saying its success will spill into the Kenya Open next year.

The Kenya Golf Limited announced on Monday the premier local golf competition had attained the European Tour status and launched the Safari Tour to prepare the local professionals for the big league.

Okello and Nyali’s resident golfer Ngugi Njuguna as well as Eldoret Club’s Boniface Simwa all welcomed the development, but insist more should be done for the local golfers if they are to compete with the world’s best.

“Kenya Open Golf Limited must introduce as many events as possible for the pros and amateurs because the success of the Safari Tour will determine a lot come next year’s Kenya Open,” Okello told Standard Sports.

Speaking from Eldoret, Simwa said: “The tour will sharpen the local pros to enable them perform better in next year’s tourney.”

Nyali Golf Club in Mombasa will host the first of the Safari Tour starting on August 18-22.

“We will not disappoint and I would like to thank the organisers for choosing Nyali  Golf Club to host the first Safari Tour,” said Njuguna, the club’s resident professional golfer.

The Safari Tour series launched at Karen Golf club in Nairobi will feature professionals, elite amateurs and elite juniors drawn from across the country.

Kenya Open Golf Limited Chairman, Peter Kanyago said of the Safari tour said: “We believe that this series will go a long way in preparing the local pros prepare for the 2019 Kenya Open and enhance their chances of winning the tournament.” 

Professional Golfers of Kenya chairman Charan Thethy also praised the launch of the  Tour  sayinf it will greatly improve skills of local golfers ahead of the Kenya Open.

The European Tour status means acclaimed players such as Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed and Tommy Fleetwood among others will be invited for a showdown in Nairobi.