Kenya Open winner to receive Sh20.5 million

[Courtesy]

The pro winner of the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship presented by Absa will receive Euros 183,330 (equivalent to Sh20.5 million), according to the tournament’s prize fund breakdown released yesterday.

The prize money, the biggest payout to the winning pro since the tournament’s inception in 1967, is more than double what Lorenzo Gagli, winner of the 2018 Kenya Open Golf Championship, took home (Euros 80,000) and is in line with the tournament’s prize kitty increase following its admission to the European Tour.

This year’s tournament’s total prize kitty was more than doubled from Euros 500,000 to Euros 1.1 million, signifying the enhanced stature of the tournament.

Runner-up pro golfer at the tournament will walk away with Euros 122,220 (Sh13.6 million) while a third-place finish for a pro will earn Euros 68,860 (Sh7.7 million).

A pro finishing in the top ten at the tournament is guaranteed of at least Euros 22,000 (Sh2.5 million) while the least prize fund payout to a pro is this year set at Euros 2,010 (Sh224,000) for the pro finishing in 70th place.

Patrick Obath, Kenya Open Golf Limited’s Tournament Director said the increase will be a great incentive for players to up their game.

On Thursday, Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) announced Sh40 million sponsorship towards the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship.

KBL said it has secured a long-term partnership with the Kenya Open Golf Limited.