By DANIELLA APIYO

Barclays Bank of Kenya and the Kenya Open Golf Limited has announced that the much anticipated, 48th edition of the Barclays Kenya Open will take place between the 9th and 12th of April at the Karen Country Club. The four-day event tees off with two Pro-Am events at the Karen Country Club sponsored by Barclays Bank and Coca Cola.

There will be 156 players consisting of both local amateurs and professional. This year’s prize money for the championship is €200,000 ( Ksh. 20M ) with the winner receiving €32,000. This money is raised mostly from the local corporate base. Prior to the international tourney, the club will host two ProAm events on 7^th and 8^th.

Kenya will be relying on Richard Ainley, Dimas Indiza, Greg Snow and John Karichu among other top players to lead the team’s challenge for the top spot.

“Our goal is to make this tournament prestigious enough to attract top flight golfers from all over the world. To achieve this, we will have to continually invest in our infrastructure and player development and I am therefore glad to note that tournaments such as the Barclays Golf Circuit are providing our players with a platform to practice their swing year round ahead of big tournaments such as BKO,” said Mr. Kanyago.

Title sponsors, Barclays Bank are now in their 5th of year sponsorship, out of which, 4 have been as lead sponsors. The bank has invested more than Kshs.85 million on both the Pro Am tournament and the Barclays Golf Circuit which is now in its 3rd year. The series is a seven month tournament which provides Kenyan golfers with an opportunity to develop their game ahead of big tournaments such as BKO.

This year’s Barclays Golf Circuit ends in March and by the time it comes to a conclusion, more than 2800 amateur and professional players from 35 clubs countrywide will have taken part, making it the largest golf tourney in the country. The next leg is scheduled for 28^th February 2015 at the Muthaiga Golf Club, prior to the Grand Finale at the end of March. Over 100 junior golfers have expressed interest in competing for a slot at the Golf Circuit finals ahead of the Kenya Open.

“In the last five years we have witnessed a tremendous growth in the sport both in the caliber of players and number of people taking an interest in the sport. Growing interest among the youth is a clear indication that golf has a great future in Kenya,” said Mr. Jeremy Awori, Managing Director Barclays bank of Kenya.

“In fact, we are expecting more than 100 junior golfers to participate in the penultimate leg of the Barclays Golf Series at the Muthaiga Country Club on the 28th of February.”

“We therefore intend to continue supporting the growth of the sport in Kenya by partnering with relevant stakeholders such as the KGU and the Kenya Open Golf Limited to identify areas of collaboration that will help us achieve this goal,” he added.

In the 2014 edition of the Barclays Kenya Open, South Africa’s Jake Roos claimed his European Challenge Tour victory after an intensely dramatic finale. Kenya’s Dismas Indiza and Greg Snow were the best-placed local players, finishing 5th and 6th overall, respectively. cheap nike air max 90 uk cheap nike air max 90 uk

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