OWITI TO LEAD STRONG KENYAN TEAM TO AAGTC EVENT IN SWAZILAND
Vet Lab’s Robinson Owiti in action at a past tournament. He is among the national team players for the continental event.
By CORRESPONDENT
Kenya Golf Union (KGU) has named a strong squad of four golfers for the seventh Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship (AAGTC).
In the championship slated from October 18-24 in Royal Swazi Spa Country Club in Swaziland, Kenya will field three senior players from Golfer of the Year (GOTY) standings John Karichu (Limuru), Tony Omuli (Golf Park) and Robinson Owiti (Vet Lab). A junior from the Junior Golf Foundation Order of Merit, Daniel Nduva from Nyali, completes Kenya’s line-up.
The quartet leaves the country at 2am tomorrow accompanied by Head of delegation Francis Okwara – Kenya Golf Union Chairman and managed by Peter Warui, the Kenya Golf Union Tournament Director and Vice Chairman.
The team has been training at different courses under the coach Anil Shah. Prior to the event which kicks of on October 21, the team will participate in the Swazi Open. The Kenyans will use Swazi Open to warm up for the main event which will be played as 72 holes stroke play event over three days.
“This is a strong squad and I’m confident these players will raise the Kenya flag high in both the events,” said Okwara yesterday.
The AAGTC remains one of the most prestigious golf competitions in Africa. It is played biennially using the Eisenhower format. Each country is represented by a team of four players.
The team score is obtained by adding the best three of the four gross scores and the trophy is awarded to the team with the lowest aggregate score.
South Africa start as clear favourites as they have won all the six editions held in Swaziland, Botswana, Uganda, Namibia, Egypt and South Africa, respectively.
Other countries expected to compete at the continental showpiece are Uganda, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Reunion Island, Mauritius and Botswana. Kenya will host the 2015 AAGTC.