By ENOCK NGOME

The first leg of this year’s KCB East Africa Golf Tour which enters its fifth year, gets under way at the par 72 Thika Sports Club course on Thursday.

Tournament Director Rizwan Charania said in Nairobi on Monday that some changes had been introduced into this year’s tournament, with a view to making it more challenging and interesting for golfers.

Among the changes is the introduction of a Kshs. 3 million prize fund for the grand finale of six tournaments that will now be held in Kenya. The tournaments organisers have also revised the number of holes that will be played at Thika Golf club this week from 72-holes to 54 holes. Charania, who is also the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Captain, said KCB has increased the prize money at Thika to KShs. 600,000.

Leading professionals including the last year’s grand finale winner Anil Shah of Royal Nairobi Golf Club, had listed their names to play, with more players expected to confirm by close of the day.  “Other than South Africa-based Stefan Andersen who returned home after participating in the European Challenge Tour’s Gujarat Kensville Challenge in India, and Muthaiga’s Greg Snow whose name had not been received by Monday morning, a total of 26 leading players had confirmed participation’’ said Charania.

Speaking during the launch of this year’s series, KCB’s Director, Marketing and Communications Angela Mwirigi said the bank had committed a total of KShs. 9 million, of which KShs 6.4 million will be prize fund for the professionals while the golf administration and prizes for the amateurs amount to KShs 2,600,000.

“Though we will not host the tournament in the other countries within East Africa this year, our objective still remain to continue growing this championship to a level where it will attract top regional and continental golfers to Kenya hence promoting KCB Group as a continental brand and Kenya as a destination for golf tourism’’ said Angela.

This year the tour will feature Thika, Muthaiga, Nyanza, Royal Nairobi, Nakuru and Nyali Golf and Mombasa Country Club. As usual, professionals will conduct a free golf clinic to Thika members and KCB employees after the second round on Friday.

The Thika course which hosted the Annual Mug of Mugs sponsored by President Mwai Kibaki during the weekend is in great condition and ready to host the pros some of whom participated during the weekend’s event. The pros who were in Thika during the weekend included home pros Simon Ngige, Railway’s Njuguna Ngugi and Muthaiga’s Paul Thuo. nike air max weiß damen nike air max weiß damen

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