Kenya Open Golf Limited Directors from Left Joe Wangai, Anthony Murange, Chairman Peter Kanyago (with trophy), Patrick Obath, Lucas Maranga and Francis Okwara pose with the Magical Kenya Open trophy.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The Kenya Open Golf Limited, organizers of the 2020 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship, presented by Absa, have announced that preparations for the tournament are complete.

The tournament, which will be played under the prestigious European tour for the second year running, is set for March 12 to, at the Karen Country club.

The announcement was made by the Kenya Open Golf Limited Chairman, Peter Kanyago, during a press briefing held at the Karen Country Club today.

“We are nine days to the tournament, which will be hosted here at the Karen Country Club, from the 12^th – 15^th of March 2020, under the European tour. Preparations for this year’s tournament are complete and we are looking forward to four days of great golf.”

While making the announcement, Kanyago also noted that the tournament’s prize fund will remain at Ksh 125 million (1.1 Million Euros); with the overall winner banking around Ksh 20.5 million (Euros 183,330).

“Like last year, the total prize fund for the 2020 Magical Kenya Open will be 1.1 Million Euros. This has been made possible by our sponsors, led by the Government of Kenya through the ministries of Sports and Tourism.”

Speaking at the same event, tournament director, Patrick Obath, mentioned that there has been increased interest from the European tour players to play at the tournament, having received over 200 entries.

Kenya Open Golf Limited Chairman Peter Kanyago (Left) and Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship Tournament director pose with the Kenya Open Trophy.

“The field this year will remain at 144 players, we have however seen a significant increase in interest from the European Tour players, to come play at the Magical Kenya Open, with over 200 entries received.”

Among the star attractions at this year’s tournament, include the last five winners, namely; Guido Migliozzi (2019), Lorenzo Gagli (2018), Aaron Rai (2017), Sebastian Soderberg (2016) and Haydn Porteous (2015).

Others expected to headline the tournament include Chris Wood, winner of the 2016 BMW PGA Championship; Justin Harding, winner of the 2019 Qatar Masters; Ashun Wu, winner of the 2018 KLM Open; Alexander Levy, five-time European Tour champion; Shubhankar Sharma, winner of the 2018 Maybank Championship; and Haoton Li, winner of the 2018 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

The Kenyan charge will be led by hard hitting Dismas Indiza and Thika Golf Club’s Simon Ngige who are part of the eight Kenyan professionals who qualified through the just concluded 2019/20 Safari Tour Golf Series.

Five names of Kenyan elite amateurs, who were selected by the Kenya Golf Union to play at this year’s Magical Kenya Open have also been released. These are: Samuel Njoroge, Daniel Nduva, Paul Muchangi, Taimur Malik and Mutahi Kabungu. They will be joined by Victor Joseph of Tanzania who has been invited to play.

Apart from the local Professionals, Robinson Chinhoi of Zimbabwe and Nigeria’s Andrew Odoh, were the two regional players who qualified to play at the Magical Kenya Open through the 2019/2020 edition of the Safari Tour. KOGL has also extended invitations to two South African players, Toto Thimba (winner of the 2019 Karen Masters) and Jayden Schaper, to come and play at this year’s tournament.

In addition to the world class golf, Obath assured golf fans of entertainment at the tournament village.

“We have once again partnered with the Kenya Breweries Limited, through its Johnnie Walker Brand to ensure that fans enjoy great entertainment, while following the action live at the village.”

Kanyago concluded by welcoming fans to the Karen Country Club, while thanking the tournament sponsors for their continued support.

“I want to thank our sponsors, Absa Bank PLC, Kenya Breweries Limited, The Standard Group, Coca Cola, Hemingways and The Waterfront Mall for their continued support. Finally, I welcome you all to the Karen Country Club from the 12^th to 15^th of March, for world class golf and hospitality at the 2020 Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa.”

Tickets to the tournament are available on www.kenyaopen.golf at Ksh. 1000 for a daily ticket and Ksh 3000 for a season ticket.

Johnnie Walker-sponsored Greg Snow poses with the Safari Golf Tour Series trophy after winning the Karen Country Club leg of the tournament.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow shot an impressive round of 68 on the last day of the final leg of the 2019/2020 season of the Safari Golf Tour Series at the Karen Country Club to emerge winner of the tournament with a total score of 4-under par 280.

He started off the round with a bogey at the par-4 first before holing consecutive birdies at the par-3 second, the par-4 third and the par-3 fourth holes before holing another birdie at the par-5 sixth to card a front nine score of 32.

On the back nine, he got off to a birdie at the 10^th and followed it up with another at the 12^th before holing yet another birdie at the 14^th to go 6-under par for the day. He however shot a double bogey at par-4 15^th and another at the par-4 18^th to card a back nine total of 36. With the Karen win, the Johnnie Walker-sponsored Snow banked KShs 450,000 and took his wins for the season to five – the most of anybody on the calendar.

At the same time, Thika Golf Club’s Simon Ngige shot an impressive round of 2-under par 69 to take his total for the tournament to 1-over par 285; seeing him clinch second place and banking KShs 300,000.

He started off his round with a total of 32 on the front nine having holed birdies at the second, sixth, seventh and ninth and having dropped a single shot at the fifth. On the back nine, he had a tough outing, carding 37 courtesy of bogeys at the 11^th, 13^th, 15^th and having only holed birdies at the 12^th and the 17^th.

Meanwhile, Dismas Indiza completed the podium places after he ended his Karen Country Club campaign with a round of 72 to take his total to 2-over par 286; having carded 36 on the front nine and another 36 on the back nine. For his performance, he took home KShs 240,000. Meanwhile, Royal Nairobi’s Golf Club finished fourth at the tournament, taking home KShs 225,000 after he shot a round of 72 on the fnal day to take his total to 3-over par 287.

Zimbabwe golfer, Robinson Chinhoi, ended his outing at the tournament as the highest ranked regional player after he shot the lowest score of the week, a 4-under 67 taking his total to 4-over 288. He finished tied in fifth alongside Muthaiga’s Geoffrey Makokha. On his part, Zambian Madalitso Muthiya finished in eighth place with a 5-over par 289 score.

Meanwhile, the list of eight Kenyan players who have qualified to play at this year’s Kenya Open was announced today.  Dismas Indiza, who finished the season as the overall leader of the Road to Kenya Open Ranking, Simon Ngige, Greg Snow, Erik Ooko, David Wakhu, C.J. Wangai, Riz Charania and Jastas Madoya complete the list of Kenyans to play at the Kenya Open. Robson Chinhoi and Nigerian Andrew Odoh are the two regional players who will play at the Kenya Open having qualified through the Safari Tour.  Two other regional players, Toto Thimba and Jayden Schaper from South Africa, have been invited to play at the tournament.

Season Three of the Safari Tour resumes starting May this year with an increased number of tournaments across four East African countries – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.

Safari Tour Calendar 2019/2020:

Event 1 Nyali Golf and Country Club: 24th – 28th August 2019 (Winner: Greg Snow)

Event 2 Uganda Open:10th – 14th Sept 2019 (Winner: Madalitso Muthiya)

Event 3 Royal Nairobi Golf Club: 12th – 16th October 2019 (Winner: Tony Omuli)

Event 4 Entebbe Open (Entebbe Golf Club): 30th Oct – 2nd Nov 2019 (Winner: Jastas Madoya)

Event 5 Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort Open: 6th – 9th Nov 2019 (Winner: Dismas Indiza)

Event 6 Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort: 23rd – 27th Nov2019 (Winner: Dismas Indiza)

Event 7 Thika Greens: 4th – 8th January 2020 (Winner: Greg Snow)

Event 8 Muthaiga Golf Club: 11th – 15th January 2020 (Winner: Greg Snow)

Event 9 Sigona Golf Club: 25th – 29th January 2020 (Winner: Greg Snow)

Event 10 Kitante Open (Uganda Golf Club): 12th – 15th February 2020 (Winner: Andrew Odoh)

Event 11 Karen Country Club: 22nd -26th February 2020 (Winner: Greg Snow)