South Koren Pro Golfer, Ho-Sung Choi (left) with Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow at the Karen Country Club today ahead of their practice round today.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The Railways Golf Club’s pro golfer, Alfred Nandwa, and Nyanza Golf Club’s, David Odhiambo, have secured spots to play at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship presented by Absa, following the drop-out of some earlier entries.

The two Kenyans join 12 others who had already qualified top play at this year’s Kenya Open, and were picked to play at the tournament based on their 2018/19 Safari Tour Golf Series ranking.

Odhiambo and Nandwa finished 12^th and 13^th on the 2018/19 Safari Tour Golf Series with 43.5 and 43 points respectively. Nandwa best finish in the Tour came at the Nyali leg where he amassed 14 points, while Odhimabo’s best Safari Tour outing was at the Muthaiga Leg of the Tour where he amassed 12.5 points. Nandwa made history at the Tour for being the only player to hole out in one at the Par-3, 16^th at the Limuru Golf Club leg.

The European Tour and the Kenya Open Golf Limited have an arrangement whereby if a player drops out or is a no show, the slots are divided out among the next available European Tour or Kenyan pro golfers. With only a few days remaining to the event, chances of additional Kenyans getting playing slots at the tournament increase since they would be the nearest available replacements for any foreign entry players.

Meanwhile, Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow today partnered with South Korean internet sensation, Ho-Sung Choi, for a practice round at the Karen Country Club ahead of the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship. Greg is currently the highest-ranked Kenyan Pro, based on his 2018/19 Safari Tour Golf Series finish, while the South Korean is making his Kenya Open debut.

Star players such as Thomas Bjorn, from Denmark, and Shubhankar Sharma, from India, are already in the country ahead of the tournament.

The 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship tees off at the Karen Country Club on Thursday the 14^th of March and will be preceded by PRO-AM tournament on Wednesday the 13^th. Tickets for the tournament can be purchased via the website www.kenyaopen.golf.

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.