-Tournament starts this Friday and ends on Sunday with 95 amateurs hitting the course for supremacy and a chance to grab a share of fat cash prize money;
MAARUFU MOHAMED-MOMBASA;
Fine cream of amateurs is set to battle for the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) final leg in the NCBA Nyali open Championship that will start at the par 71 Nyali golf and Country club course in Mombasa County from this Friday.
The three days 54 holes tournament that ends on Sunday and mark the end of this year’s 28th KAGC golf series that started in January at Sigona golf club and played around the Country, will see the amateurs seeking to earn a share of a fat cash prize money.
It will also see the crowning of the Kenya golfer of the year champion, a chance to enter next year’s Kenya open championship and also earn points towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
The tournament has attracted 95 top leading Amateurs from the Country and the East African region for those with handicaps 15.4 or less who will play 54 holes in three days and more than 100 other players with high handicaps, will join on Saturday to play in the subsidiary category.
Kiambu’s Michael Karanja missed last year’s Nyali Open title by a single stroke carding a total of 217 gross to Ugandan Amateur Godfrey Nsubuga who had 218 gross during the finals to claim the Nyali Open Champion title.
Karanga was crowned the Golfer of the year Champion and is poised to retain this year’s title as he currently tops on 834.5 points in player ranking of the series.
Among other players to watch are the National team Captain John Lejirma of Kenya Railways who is currently second in player ranking with 646.0 points and confirmed his readiness and preparedness for the tournament.
“Iam really looking forward to the Nyali event. It’s always an exciting tournament and the competition is usually strong. My preparation has been focused on refining my short game and course management which are key in a course like Nyali which demands precision and strategy. I have also been reviewing m past performances to identify areas for improvement but generally I feel confident and ready to give my best out there, “said Lejirman.
Others includes Kiambu’s Elvis Muigua, standing third on 449.3 points while unfortunately home club’s Adel Taufiq Balala who is the 2022 Nyali open Champion and currently stands fourth with 272.0 points will be missing due to pressure of work.
Also among others to watch are Golf Park’s Sammy Mulama who recently won the Tanzania Open and home boys include are William Odeck, Dickson Barasa, Omar Lewa, and Mombasa golf club’s Henry Kamau have all confirmed participation.
Club captain Dinesh Sasan said the club management, Board members and staffs have been working round the clock for the last two weeks to ensure all systems has been put in place and assured the golfers that they will enjoy their rounds of golf around the course with the current excellent moderate hot weather at the Coast.
“We are ready, I welcome all the golfers alongside fans and assure them that they will be enjoying playing on a well-groomed and a real championship layout with impeccable greens in our 6510 yards course that is always in an excellent condition,” said Sasan.
KGU Chairman David Ndung’u said the tournament will be the union’s season ender to determine Kenya’s top golf amateur in the Kenya golfer of the year (GOTY) series and also seek to gain entry to next year’s Kenya Open Championship.
“The golfers will be seeded on the basis of the first and second round results, we expect to have a good game in Mombasa and wish all the players the best. We also like to take this early opportunity to thank the Nyali club for continuing to host such a big event, “said Ndung’u.
Nyali Golf & country club course is a real championship layout with impeccable greens and some testing short rough and the course has five par threes all having a degree of chance for the badly hit shot.
Golfers should expect intermittent rains currently ongoing at the Coast including the Mombasa City and some wet parts of the course may also be a challenge.
KAGC Player Ranking 2024 after the Uhuru Shield 2024;
1-Michael Karanga-Kiambu (+1.3)-834.5points.
2-John Lejirma-Kenya Railway (+1.1)-646.0points.
3-Elvis Muigua-Kiambu (0.0)-449.3points.
4-Adel Taufiq Balala-Nyali (+2.1)-272.0points.
5-Josphat Rono-Golf Park (+0.4)-245.3points.
6-John Kamais-Nakuru (2.1)-232.0points.
7-Sammy Mulama-Golf Park (+0.2)-188.6points.
8-Dusabe Felix-Kigali (1.4)-188.0points.
9-William Odeck-Nyali (0.6)-183.1points.
10-Michael Alunga-Uganda golf club (0.0)-182.7points.
KAGC Club Trophy Ranking 2024 after the Uhuru Shield 2024;
1-Golf Park Golf Club-787.8points.
2-Kiambu Golf Club-494.1points.
3-Muthaiga Golf Club-347.8points.
4-Vet Lab Sports Club-305.8points.
5-Nyali Golf & Country Club-303.6points.
6-Ruiru Sports Club-273.2points.
7-Kenya Railway Golf Club-241.2points.
8-Royal Nairobi Golf Club-127.0points.
9-Nandi Bears Club-122.4points.
10-Uganda Golf Club-111points.
ENDS;
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