From Left to right- National Fund Chairman, Luke Luseno, acting CEO Mark Wambughu, Kenya Golf Union Chairman Richard Wanjalla, Kenya Open Golf LTD Chairman, Peter Kanyago and Kenya Open Golf Limited PR and Sponsorship Director, Kathleen Kihanya during today’s cheque presentation ceremony.

By AMANDA DAMARIS

The Government, through National Sports Fund has today announced a Sh50 million sponsorship towards the 50^th edition of the Kenya Open Tournament.

This is in line with a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta at the conclusion of the 2017 Barclays Kenya Open, to raise the standard of the Championship.

Speaking during the cheque handover ceremony, National Sports Fund’s Chairman Luke Luseno said that the government is committed to supporting the growth of sports- in this case, golf in the country.

“The government, through the National Sports Fund, has undertaken to sponsor and fund sports across the board. Sponsoring the Kenya Open tournament is in line with the president’s directive to develop golf, especially for junior players, and position the country as a golfing destination,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) PR and sponsorship Director, Kathleen Kihanya noted that the government’s support will go a long way in raising the standards of the Kenya Open Championships.

“We welcome this significant sponsorship from the government, which has placed the Kenya Open at the top of the European Challenge Tour events. With continued support from the government, we are confident that the Kenya Open is going to move on to the main European tour.”

This year’s championship will be the most lucrative tournament on the European Challenge tour boasting of a total prize kitty of 500,000 Euros (KES. 62.5 Million).

The 50th Edition of the Kenya Open Tournament will take place on 22nd-25th March at the Muthaiga Golf Club. The tournament is set to attract a total of 156 participants, of these 22 will local professional golfers and 4 amateurs.

Tickets to the championship are available for sale on www.ticketsasa.com. air max 95 air max 95

The 2016 Kenya Open Golf Championship Winner Sebastian Soderberg lift the Championship trophy at the Karen Country Club.

By DANIELLA APIYO

As the Kenya Open Golf Championship will be celebrating it’s 50^th anniversary during this year’s edition to be held at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club, a star studded filed comprising of three recent winners have confirmed participation.

2009 winner, Gary Boyd, 2010 winner Robert Dinwiddle and 2016 champion, Sebastian Soderberg, lead the contingent of foreign players already registered for the 72-hole competition to run between March 22 and 25.

The three will lead a high-caliber list of entries by foreign players who have expressed interest to take part in this year’s tournament, and whose participation at the tourney is now awaiting ratification by the European Challenge Tour.

Englishman Boyd won the 2009 Championship with a total gross score of 13-under par 271, which was a personal improvement from the previous year’s tournament where he had finished fifth with a round score of six-under par 278. Boyd also featured at the Kenya Open Championship in 2014, 2015 and last year where he finished 63^rd.

Fellow Englishman, Dinwiddle, who won the 2010 edition of the Open with a 12-under 272 gross score; had also participated in the 2007 edition of the Open (where he finished 82^nd), 2002 (where finished 22^nd) and last year at the Muthaiga Golf Club where he finished 41^st with a total gross score of four-under par 280.

Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg won the 2016 Championship with a gross score of 18-under par 270 to set the tournament’s second-best score in the Championship’s history. He has featured at the tournament on two other occasions; in 2015, where he finished 104, and last year where he finished 154^th.

Notable names in the roster of entries by foreign players expected to take part at this year’s tournament include two-time Challenge Tour winner, Richard McEvoy (who won the 2017 Scottish Hydro Challenge tournament and the 2005 Panasonic Panama Open tourney) and three-time Challenge Tour and one-time European Tour champion, Roope Kakko (who has won the Madeira Islands Open tournament (twice); the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic tournament and the Volvo Finnish Open).

Other foreign nationals expected to take part at this year’s action include Swede Anton Karlsson, Frenchman Antoine Rozne, Ugandan Fred Wanzala, Rwandese Ernest Ndayinsenga and Nigerian Andrew Oche Odoh.

This year, the tournament has also attracted six South African professional players who play in the Sunshine Tour; continuing Kenya Open Golf Limited’s tradition of involving top professionals from the region in order to enhance the profile of the tournament, and to give local players a chance to play with pros from the region as well.

The six South Africans include, Oliver Bekker (seven-time Sunshine-Tour-related tournament winner), Ockie Strydom, Louis de Jager, Jaco Ahlers, Neil Schietekat and Peter Karmis – who is ranked 13^th overall best player in Africa by the Official World Golf Ranking. The six will be making their debut at the Kenya Open and are expected to mount a formidable challenge among the foreign players.

Speaking at the sidelines of the Kenya Open At 50 golf tournament at the Muthaiga Golf Club this weekend, Kenya Open Golf Championship Tournament Director, Patrick Obath, attributed the enhanced interest from foreign players to the increased prize money this year which has raised the profile of the tournament.

“This year’s total prize kitty of (Sh62.5 million) €500,000 has seen us received enhanced interest from a high-calibre list of players from across the world whose participation we believe will enhance the quality of golf that will be played at the tournament,”he said.

The Kenya Open Golf Championship has slots for 156 players; 106 of whom are selected on merit through the European Challenge Tour and 50 selected by the Kenya Open Golf Limited featuring Kenyan and regional professionals as well as local amateurs.

Barclays Kenya Open 2018

Date (Main event): 22^nd to 25^th of March, 2018.

Date (Pro-am) Tue 20^th March and Wed 21^st March, 2018.

Venue: Muthaiga Golf Club (Nairobi, Kenya).

Prize Money: Euros 500,000 (Sh62.5million).

Field: 156 players – including about 22 Kenya professionals, 6 Kenyan amateurs and over 100 European Challenge Tour players. nike air max 1 nike air max 1