Kenya Eight pros and Six Amateurs to Represent the Country.
GOLFNEWSLINKS REPORTER;
Muthaiga Golf Club in the Capital City of Nairobi will again for the second time be the host of this year’s Magical Kenya Open Golf Championships as a European Tour event slated from March 9th-12th, 2023.
Cabinet Secretary for Youth affairs, Sports and the Arts Hon. Ababu Namwamba said during the official launch at Muthaiga on Monday evening said that the preparations for this year’s Magical Kenya Open are in top gear and commended the Kenya Open Golf Limited for maintaining international standards in the organization of the event.
“I am extremely proud that as a Country, we are able to hold a sporting event that meets international standards, like the Magical Kenya Open. Our pristine and world-class Golf Courses have ensured that we have hosted Golf giants since 1967, who have displayed their skills on Kenyan soil,”said Namwamba.
He noted that hosting the Championship, a DP World Tour event, was a clear indication of the organizers’ confidence in the Country and comes immediately after the successful Magical Kenya Ladies Open at Vipingo Ridge Golf resort last Month in Kilifi County.
Kenya Open Golf Limited’s Chairman, Njani Ndiritu appreciated the Government efforts in supporting the golf industry in the country and that he was happy that the Government through the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts had once
again, generously stepped up to support the event through the provision of the prize fund for the event.
“It is through Government support and commitment that this event was elevated to the elite European Tour that eventually became the DP World Tour. We can confidently say that we are all set and ready for this year’s championship and happy to host it again at Muthaiga Golf Club, where it all started and look forward to welcoming the players, spectators, and our esteemed partners to experience the magic of the game of golf at the ‘home of golf’”, said Ndiritu.
The Tournament Director Patrick Obath noted that a field of 156 golfers will take part in the 2023 Magical Kenya Open with a prize purse of Two million dollars (USD).
Obath noted that with live global broadcast coverage across four days, the Magical Kenya Open is a great opportunity to promote Kenya as a golf destination to the world and support Kenyan golf.
He said the event will be produced for live TV coverage across the four days with the world feed being distributed all over the world.
“The event will continue to adhere to strict safety and health protocols even though we are now considered in a post-Covid era. While we are having an event with spectators this year, we have ensured that we have put in place adequate measures to protect the health of everyone who will be involved in the event. All government protocols with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic will be fully implemented throughout the tournament, “said Obath.
Meanwhile Eight Kenyan professional Golfers and Six Amateurs who dominated the Kenya Amateurs Golf Championships (KAGC) series will represent the country in the Championship who were finally named after the conclusion of the Safari Golf Tour Series at the same venue last Wednesday.
The Kenyan Professionals are led by Greg Snow (Muthaiga), Samuel Njoroge (Kenya Railways), Dismas Indiza (Mumias), Daniel Nduva (Nyali), Simon Ngige (Great Rift), Mutahi Kibugu (Muthaiga), Jastas Madoya (Great Rift), and Mike Kisia (Vet lab).
The six Kenya Amateurs the match play champion Dennis Maara, from Limuru, Kenya Railways John Lejrima, the Kenya Stroke Play champion, Series winner, Nyali’s Adel Balala, Royal’s Jay Sandu, Muthaiga’s Njoroge Kibugu and compatriot Daniel Kiragu.
Zimbabwean Robson Chinhoi will be missing the opportunity to play at the MKO despite leading the Safari Tour series but his country mates Visitor Mapwanya who won the Muthaiga leg will be in the team as well as Nyasha Muyambo and Ugandan Ronald Rugumayo.
The Magical Kenya Open has a history dating back to 1967 and appeared on the European Tour’s schedule for the first time in 2019, having previously taken its place on the Challenge Tour schedule since 1991.
This much anticipated 54th edition of the Champion has quite often brought some of the best golfers in the world playing at the Kenya Open in the 1970s and 1980s.
Players like Justin Harding and Ashun Wu are some of the winners from the recent past and more recently, a quick look at the top 100 list reveals a good number of recent winners and participants of the Kenya Open Championship.
ENDS;
