Safaricom Chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a (left) receives his award from Barclays Bank of Kenya Head of Global Corporates Alfred Wachira after qualifying to represent the Limuru Golf and Country Club at the Grand Finale of the Barclays Golf Circuit to be held in March. The tourney attracted over 200 players from Limuru and Kiambu Golf Clubs.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Eric Mutuku playing off handicap 22 returned an impressive score of 41 points while lady winner Kezie Kihara off handicap 25 returned a score of 39 points to represent Limuru Golf and Country Club at the 2014/2015 Barclays Golf Circuit Grand Finale in March at the Karen Country Club.

Other qualifiers from the 12^th leg of the ongoing circuit held at Limuru Golf and Country Club include Rodrick Munuhe (20), Eliud Wakae Gathu (12) Steve Wanguru (21) Kezie Kihara (25) and Safaricom Chairman Nicholas Nganga (19).

Over 200 players signed up to participate at the tournament with an eye on clinching a slot at the upcoming Barclays Kenya Open scheduled for 7^th-12^th April 2015. The Limuru Golf Club Captain Mr. Sam Ndung’u was optimistic that Limuru will be well represented at the Kenya Open.

“Tournaments like the Barclays Golf Circuit have provided a perfect platform for our golfers to practice more ahead of this year’s Barclays Kenya Open, and I believe we shall be well represented this time,” said Mr. Ndung’u.

So far, 72 more players drawn from golf clubs from Nakuru, Machakos, Kitale, Nyanza, Sigona, Nanyuki, Thika, Nyali, Eldoret, Vet Lab, Karen and Royal Nairobi have qualified to participate in the Circuit’s Grand Finale to be held at the Karen Country Club on 28^th March. The Kenya team to participate at the Barclays Kenya Open will be named at the Finale. The challenge, however, is for the country’s golfing best to increase their chances of winning in the Kenya Open.

Barclays Bank has invested over Ksh 85 million since 2012 to boost the profile of the sport in Kenya. The financial-services provider aims to reach over 2,800 youth in a bid to hone their golfing talent.

“One thing that has stood out throughout the 2014/2015 Circuit is the increased number of youth taking interest in golf. We have reached over 1,500 of them through the Circuit, and their participation has made it much more exciting. We believe that this sustained effort can push the number and quality of professional golfers and contribute towards building the talent in Kenya,” said Zahid Mustafa, Barclays Bank Consumer Banking Director.

Barclays is sponsoring the Barclays Kenya Open for the fifth year running and has helped raise the country’s global profile as one of the ideal golfing destinations in East Africa.

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Professional golfer Greg Snow lines his putt at a past event. He will be in action at the KQ Golf Safari in Nakuru on Saturday.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Kenya’s celebrated International pro Greg Snow and Dismas Indiza will be the star attractions when the 2014/2015 Kenya Airways Golf Safari action resumes this weekend at the 18-hole Nakuru Golf Club.

The hard-hitting duo makes up a class field of 28 pros lined-up for a 36 hole tournament on Friday and Saturday, according to Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) Captain CJ Wangai.

Wangai said pros will play in five KQ Golf Safaris in Nakuru, Sigona, Vet Lab, Karen and ultimately the grand finale at Windsor on March 26.

“We sincerely thank the management of Kenya Airways for handing local pros an opportunity to prepare adequately for the Kenya Open.” remarked Wangai who is a resident pro at Sigona.

Wangai who was among the top three pros in the 2014 PGK Order of Merit will however not be playing in Nakuru as he involved in the organisation of Sigona Bowl this weekend.

The pros showdown precedes the 18-hole amateurs’ tournament featuring over 160 golfers on Saturday. Across borders, Uganda Golf Club in Kampala plays host to the next round of the international calendar also on Saturday.

This is the first time since 2012 that the KQ series is incorporating professionals and Snow’s presence in Nakuru is anticipated to generate considerable interest. Snow has lined up a number of events prior to and after this year’s Barclays Kenya Open, as he prepares to launch his bid for the European Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour School.

Snow, now based at Royal Nairobi Golf Club and the most successful player during last year’s Kenya Open, will feature in five events in the newly launched Mediterranean PGA Tour in Egypt.

While pros will be using the prestigious Golf Safari to shape up for the annual Kenya Open, amateurs will be fighting to clinch two return tickets at stake for the overall winner to fly a KQ destination of choice within the African region.

Over and above the return tickets gesture, the overall, men’s and ladies winners will earn slots to the grand finale.

Nakuru resident pro James Lorum has named handicap three Paul Mwea and Njuguna Njoka (handicap 5) as those expected to prevail in the amateur category. “Njoka and Mwea have been so impressive lately and I have a feeling that the duo will perform well this weekend,” said Lorum who has represented Kenya severally at the Kenya Open.

Pros playing in the Golf Safari this weekend are indeed the usual suspects the country will field at the prestigious Kenya Open.

Mumias’ long-hitter Indiza, Snow, David Odhiambo of Kisumu, host Richard Ainley, Lorum of Nakuru, Jacob Okello of Golf Park, Nicholas Rokoine of Muthaiga, Royal duo of David Wakhu and Erick Ooko, Simon Ngige of Thika Sports Club, Railways’ Njuguna Ngugi and Nanyuki resident pro Sullivan Muthugia are the main attractions in the list of 28 professionals. At stake for pros in Nakuru is a prize fund of Ksh. 280,000.

After Uganda, the international focus shifts to the Riverdale CC in Thailand and the Reef Golf Club in Seychelles on January 31.

Pecanwood Golf Club in SA and Lusaka Golf Club will wind up the tour of Africa.

Kenya Airways Golf Safari, through “KQ Holidays” is designed to promote Kenya as a top golf tourism destination. With more than 35 golf clubs across the country, reasonable green fees, a tourist friendly exchange rate, all-year-round golfing weather, adequate hotel bed space and regular KQ flights to Europe and Asia, Kenya is poised to tap into the $2 billion a year golf tourism market. air max 95 air max 95