NDUVA INCLUDED IN AMATURE TEAM FOR KENYA OPEN
Junior golfer Daniel Nduva (left) receives an award during the SOYA ceremony in December.
By DONALD WELLINGTON
On form junior golfer Daniel Nduva has been included in the six-man Kenyan amateur team for this year’s Kenya Open Golf Championships slated for Karen Golf and Country Club between March 5 and 9.
According to the list released by Kenya Golf Union (KGU) yesterday, the 18-year old long hitter was the surprise in the team and will mainly be the focus of attention when he makes his debut in the competition at such am early age.
Reigning Golfer Of The Year, Limuru’s John Karichu who also won the Kenya Strokeplay Championships will also be making a debut in the premier competition and also is Justus Madoya of Great Rift Valley Club by virtue of finishing fourth in the Goty series as well as Vet Lab’s Robinson Owiti who was third in the series.
The others, Vet Lab’s Nelson Simwa who won the Kenya Matchplay Championships and Golf Park’s Tony Omuli who was second in Goty series have had a go in the Open before.
While announcing the names yesterday, Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman Francis Okwara the Kenya Open competition which is part of the European Challenge Tour, would give the amateur players a great opportunity to showcase their golfing skills against the best in the world.
“The players were selected as per the KGU policy on qualifications. The policy states that the winner of strokeplay championship, winner of matchplay championship as well as the golfer of the
year gets an automatic slot to play in the Open. The others are picked as per GOTY Standings,” said Okwara.
He added: “Recently, the Union amended the policy to include the best junior according to the Order of Merit.”
The last time an amateur made the cut in the competition was in 2011 and it was Boniface Simwa, now a professional based in Eldoret.
The Kenya Open has been an event on the European based Challenge Tour schedule since 1991. It was founded in 1967, and has been held at Muthaiga Golf Club every year except 1968, 2004-2008, and 2013, when the tournament it was held at Karen Club.
TEAM: John Karichu (Limuru)- Winner GOTY 2013 and winner Kenya Strokeplay
championship; Nelson Simwa ( Vet Lab)- Winner, Kenya Matchplay Championship 2013; Tony Omuli (Golf Park) Runner up GOTY 2013; Robinson Owiti (Vet lab)- Third, GOTY 2013; Justus Madoya (GRV(- Fourth GOTY 2013; Daniel Nduva- Best junior player in 2013.