KBL Managing Director Jane Karuku (L) hands over a sponsorship cheque to KOGL Director Joe Wangai (R), as KGU Vice chair Anthony Murage looks on.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Johnnie Walker has announced that it will award the first golfer who holes out in one at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship, at the Karen Country Club. The lucky golfer will receive a bottle of Johnnie Walker Odyssey.

The Johnnie Walker Hole-In-One prize will be on offer at the Par-3, 16th hole (current 7^th) at the Karen Country Club.

Making the announcement, Kenya Breweries Limited Managing Director, Mrs. Jane Karuku expressed the company’s delight in awarding the prize during the Kenya Open; reiterating the company’s support towards the growth of Golf in the country.

“The Kenya Breweries Limited through its Johnnie Walker brand is pleased to announce a Hole-In-one Prize during the 2019 Magical Kenya Open. The first player who holes out in one during the competition will walk away with a prized bottle of Johnnie Walker Odyssey.”

“At KBL, we remain committed to contributing to the growth of sports in Kenya and indeed Johnnie Walker has a rich history of supporting golf locally. The brand recently partnered with the Kenya Open Golf Limited to sponsor the last two legs of the 2018/19 Safari Tour and also sponsored the hole-in-one prize during the tournaments.”

Welcoming the announcement, Kenya Open Golf Championship Finance Director, Joe Wangai, said: “We are delighted to have our alcoholic beverage partner, Johnnie Walker, also offer a hole-in-one award at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open. It is our belief that we will see players getting out of their comfort zones to take calculated risks, to win the prize, resulting in better scores and increased excitement from the fans.”

The announcement comes days after the giant alcoholic beverage company unveiled a KES. 40 Million Sponsorship of the 2019 Magical Kenya Open.

The championship is set to take place between the 14^th and 17^th of March 2019, at the Karen Country Club. This will be the first time that the tournament will be played under the prestigious European Tour.

South Korean pro golfer and internet sensation, Ho-Sung Choi during a game drive at the Nairobi National Park at the weekend courtesy of the Kenya Tourism Board.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

South Korean internet sensation, Ho-Sung Choi, who landed in the country on Thursday this week is already getting a feel of Kenya and acclimatizing himself to the surroundings ahead of the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship which tees-off on Thursday next week.

Having played a nine-hole practice round on Friday at the Karen Country Club, Choi was yesterday treated to a game drive at the Nairobi National Park courtesy of the Kenya Tourism Board. Together with his visiting entourage, Choi was treated to a spectacle of a host of wild animals at the park; a marvel which he remarked was unique to Nairobi based on his travel around the world.

Choi, who is famously known for his unorthodox swing, said, after his practice round on Friday, that he felt slightly nervous coming into the tournament; not knowing what to expect as this was his first time in the country. His first impression of the Karen Country Club course was that it has tricky fairways, though he said that he felt comfortable with their lengths.

Meanwhile, preparations for the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship are in top gear with final touches being put into place ahead of the tournament which tees-off on Thursday at the Karen Country Club.

Working teams were today putting up critical infrastructure, which includes, among others, seating bleachers, hospitality tents, tv towers and tv compound infrastructure. Teams are working round the clock to ensure all is in place ahead of the tournament this coming Thursday where expectations are high from all quarters.

This year’s tournament is set to attract a record number of spectators following the elevation of the tournament to the European Tour and is set to feature new additions to its offering such as music concerts on Friday and Saturday.