By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Preparations for this year’s Victoria Cup are complete. The event which pits rivals Kenya and Uganda will be held at the Limuru Country Club from July 28th to 31^st where each team will be represented by 10 players.

The Kenya Golf Union (KGU) had earlier named 17 players who have been undergoing training under Coach John van Liefland, in preparation for the event. The squad included; Dennis Maara (Limuru), Adel Balala ( Nyali), Jay Sandhu (Muthaiga), John Lejirmah (Railway), Michael Karanga (Kiambu), Sammy Mulama (Golf Park), Ebill Omollo (Vet Lab), and John Kamais (Nakuru), Christopher Andrea ( Ruiru Sports Club). The Juniors are Njoroge Kibugu (Muthaiga, Daniel Kiragu (Muthaiga), Mikael Kihara (Vet Lab), Steve Orinda (Vet Lab), Chrisphine Owuor (Vet Lab), Lee Kimathi (Windsor), Andrew Wahome ( Nyali Golf & Country Club, and Ngondo Kimemia (Sigona.

‘Today, we are pleased to announce the Team of 10 that will represent Kenya in this year’s Victoria Cup.” Said Mr. Njani Ndiritu the Chairman Kenya Golf Union.

Since its inauguration in 2016 Kenya has won the event three times. In 2019, Uganda won the event at Entebbe Golf Club. “We are happy to stage the event once again this year, something we were not able to do in 2020 and 2021 due to the challenges brought about by the Covid 19 Pandemic” added Ndiritu.

Team Kenya will comprise of Adel Balala, Andrew Wahome, Christopher Andrea, Daniel Kiragu, Dennis Maara, Ebill Omollo, John Lejirma, Michael Karanga, Njoroge Kibugu and Sammy Mulama.

Talking from the training Venue – Limuru Country Club, Dennis Maara the team captain oozed confidence as he reassured the country that the team is fully prepared and that they intend to get the trophy back.

 

TEAM KENYA FOR THE VICTORIA CUP:

Adel Balala

Andrew Wahome

Christopher Andrea

Daniel Kiragu

Dennis Maara

Ebill Omollo

John Lejirma

Michael Karanga

Njoroge Kibugu

Sammy Mulama

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

• THURSDAY 28TH JULY 2022 – PRACTICE ROUND & FLAG RAISING CEREMONY
• FRIDAY 29TH JULY 2022

MAIN EVENT ROUND 1 – FOUR BALL BETTER BALL

MAIN EVENT    ROUND 2 – FOURSOMES

• SATURDAY 30TH JULY 2022

MAIN EVENT ROUND 3 – FOUR BALL BETTER BALL

MAIN EVENT ROUND 4 – FOURSOMES

• SUNDAY 31ST JULY 2022

MAIN EVENT ROUND 5 – SINGLES

SUBSIDIARY EVENT – TEXAS SCRAMBBLE

CLOSING CEREMONY

By KGG Correspondent 

SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to seeing all the action from the PGA Tour’s 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 July 2022.

SuperSport is the ultimate destination for Golf fans, with an unparalleled selection of action from around the world.

The 3M Open was first played in 2019 (replacing the 3M Championship on the PGA Tour) and its current reigning champion is Cameron Champ, who shot 269 (-15) to take the 2021 title by two strokes from Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Jhonattan Vegas.

“It was a week everything was going pretty smoothly. I was playing some good golf, I was putting things together those first few days,” Champ said of last year’s triumph. “I knew that last day the way I was playing, the way the course was set up, it was for anybody really.”

Amongst the field looking to claim the title from Champ is 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, who will be returning to the 3M Open for the first time since 2019.

“We are certainly glad to welcome Hideki back to the 3M Open as he brings an incredible talent to what we are confident will be an impressive four-day competition,” said Mike Welch, 3M Open Tournament Director.

Executive Director Hollis Cavner, meanwhile, insists that the 3M Open will remain a major draw for the top players, despite the presence of the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Tour. PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan is suspending any current players headed to the LIV Tour, meaning they can’t play in any tour events, such as the 3M Open.

“The Saudi golf league is a pain. It’s a pain in our butt. We’ve lost some players to them, but we’re going to win in the long battle,” Cavner said. “After 30 years on tour, I have the utmost confidence in the PGA Tour and what we have going on how we’re handling things.”

Cavner doesn’t think the new LIV series is a sustainable product: “How long is it going to be? There’s no way that LIV golf can make money, the numbers don’t work. How long is it going to be before they get tired of throwing billions a year at something if they’re not getting great PR?

“I really don’t think it’ll be around in two years. If it is, it’s an exhibition tour. It is absolutely just an exhibition tour, that’s the way I feel about it. Guys are getting paid to show up and there’s no risk.”

The TPC Twin Cities features a 7431-yard, par 71 course. The purse for the 3M Open is $7.5million.

No rival can compete with SuperSport’s coverage. Our viewers on DStv can see all their favourite golf stars dominating courses across the world. Visit www.dstv.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can stream matches on the DStv App.

3M Open broadcast details

All times CAT

Thursday 21 July

20:00: Day 1 – LIVE on SuperSport Action

Friday 22 July

20:00: Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Saturday 23 July

19:00: Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Sunday 24 July

19:00: Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf