-Unfortunately 13 Kenyan Golfers including nine Professionals and Four Amateurs were turned to spectators after failing to make the cut into the two final rounds;
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS;
Thirty-four years old Dutchman Darius Van Driel was crowned the overall winner of the 2024 Magical Kenya Golf Tournament that ended at the Kenya’s Par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club Course in Nairobi on Sunday evening.
Driel clinched the title after carding a combined total of 270 gross to join the Winner’s Circle on his 112th DP World Tour appearance.
Infact, Drien sent a warning signal in day one on Thursday by taking the lead on a five under par 66 gross and played a two under par 69 in the second day on Friday.
He added a three under par 68 gross in the third day on Saturday before finalizing in the last day on Sunday with a last minute birdie on the last hole to give him an under par 67 gross.
This enabled Drien to clinch the overall title and flew back home with Ksh 61.6 million ($425,000) from the total prize purse of Ksh 362.8 million ($2.5 million).
He termed his maiden DP World Tour victory in Kenya “a dream come true,” and said, “I have been playing in Kenya since 2016 and I’m glad it has finally happened.”
English golfer Joe Dean and Nacho Elvira from Espania tied for the second slot with a combined total of 272 gross each, missing the victory by two strokes.
There was also a tie for the third slot where Espanias Mauel Elvira and Adrian Otaegui with Mathew Jordan from England each returned a combined score of 273gross.
Unfortunately the weekend turned sour after the much anticipated 13 Kenyans including nine Professionals and Four Amateurs found the going tough and were turned to mere spectators after failing to make a cut to the next two final rounds.
The Kenyans who featured in the event were Dismas Indiza,Greg Snow,Mutahi Kibugu,Njoroge Kibugu,Daniel Nduva,Mohit Mediratta,Samuel Njoroge,Justus Madoya,Mike Kisia,Michael Karanga,John Lejirma,Isaac Makokha and Josephat Rono.
Indiza admitted as being tough playing against the visiting players who have had good exposure and experience by playing in many events of the same level as the Magical Kenya Open.
“We have very good players here but they need to be given the exposure by playing in some of the tours like Sunshine, and others like the Asian Tour,Here we have only the Safari tour that prepares golfers for such an event.Lets have more, “pleaded Indiza who is now 55 years old.
Looking at the history of the Kenya Open, beyond 2019 when it was introduced as a DP World Tour event and renamed the Magical Kenya Open, there have been some impressive winners.
In 2017, England’s Aaron Rai lifted the famous trophy with his Kenyan-born mother in attendance and Ten years earlier, it was Edoardo Molinari who was victorious at Karen CC.
In 2000 future Masters champion, Trevor Immelman won the Tusker Kenya Open (as it was named then).
Immelman and Seve aren’t the only Masters champions to have won around Muthaiga GC, Ian Woosnam won the 555 Kenya Open on the Safari Tour in 1986 while Ashun Wu was the 2022 Magical Kenya Open Champion and Last year’s champion was Jorge Campillo who was not in the field to defend his title.
Other past champions includes Justin Harding, Guido Migliozzi, and Edoardo Molinari and the most recent winner on the DP World Tour, two weeks ago at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters was Rikuya Hoshino is teeing it up this week.
Magical Kenya open is a stroke play event played over 72 holes with a cut after 36 holes (two rounds) that saw the leading 65 players and ties make the final two rounds where the player who achieves the lowest score over four rounds will win the tournament.
The Championship in Kenya has been played at twice at Muthaiga GC and Karen CC has hosted it once.
THE 2024 MAGICAL KENYA OPEN TOP TEN LEADERS AND TIES;
Darius Van Driel (Netherlands)-270gross,Joe Dean (England)-272gross,Nacho Elvira (Espania)-272gross,Manuel Elvira (Espania)-273gross,Mathew Jordan (England)-273gross,Adrian Otaegui (Espania)-273gross,ewen Ferguson (Scotland)-274gross,Connor Syme (Scotland)-274gross,Deon Germishuys (South Africa)-275gross,Weon Jeong Ko (France)-275gross.
ENDS;
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