GOLFER OF THE YEAR OPATI NOW TURNS PRO
SCALING HEIGHTS: David Opati receives the national flag from Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba before captaining Kenya at the East Africa Challenge in Burundi.
By CORRESPONDENT
The finest amateur golfer in the country and national team captain David Opati has joined the paid ranks and will be eying a slot to play in the Kenya Open Golf Championships to be held at the Karen Golf and Country Club between February 14 and 17.
According to the People Newspaper, Opati turned professional on Tuesday.
“I have just joined the professional ranks and I feel great because it is every golfer’s dream to play professional golf and I want to play in the European Tour where there is good money,” said Opati.
Opati who was crowned the golfer of the year last month, said he was now eyeing a place in the Kenyan Open and was optimistic of bagging the limited spots remaining for local professionals.
“It is not too to get a chance in this year’s Kenya Open because there are still about seven slots remaining and I am confident I can make the list of seven,” said Opati.
So far, only 15 professional players are guaranteed a slot at the Kenya Open, ten from last year’s KCB ProAm order of merit and five who made the cut at last year’s Kenya Open.
Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) are said to be planning to use the KCB professional’s event at Royal on January 31 and the Jamii Telkom
tournament on February 7 to pick pros for the remaining slots.
“I have been working on my swing and how to approach the green and my coach Jacob Okello has really helped my par five games. I also want to
thank my sponsor Shangilia Mtoto,” Opati said.
The player who was the national team captain last year, has turned pro while playing off handicap +3.
Last season he won the Nyali Open, Coast Open and Manchester Salver.
Some of the highlights of Opati last season were finishing third at the season opening Sigona Bowl, then he won the Coast Open, finished second at the Kerich Tea Fields and Nyanza’s Hippo Point. At Limuru Open and Mount Kenya Championship he was fourth.
No local player has ever won the Kenya Open tournament and Opati is clearly aware of the immediate challenge ahead. maillotolympiquedemarseille maillotolympiquedemarseille