Riz Charania follows his tee shot at the Safari Tour PRO-AM that was held at the Nyali Golf Club.

By AMANDA DAMARIS

Windsor Golf and Country Club’s Riz Charania led his team of Said Bajaber, Justin Kaburu and Reaz Alibhai to win the Safari Tour Pro-Am event at the Nyali Golf and Country Club with a combined stableford score of 82.

Charania posted an individual score of level gross on what was a tough windy and rainy day at Nyali. Speaking after his round, Charania praised his team of amateurs for playing well. “I was lucky to be paired with a team of golfers who were fun to play with and who obviously know their golf course very well,” he said.

Commenting on the Safari Tour, Charania said this Tour was many years overdue. “As Kenyan professionals we have been praying for the formation of such a Tour and we are very grateful to the Kenya Open Golf Limited for supporting our dreams and trade.”

With this victory Charania took home Sh30,000 whilst his amateur team mates received golf prizes.

The team of Sigona’s Pro C.J. Wangai and amateurs Lemmy Kaburu, Pauline Gichara and William Kaguta finished in second place with a combined stableford score of 81 points whilst the team of Muthaiga’s Pro Greg Snow and amateurs Paul Krijnen, Joseph Oluoch and Nimisha Shah finished in third place with a combined score of 79 points. Wangai and Snow were awarded Sh20,000 and Sh10,000 respectively.

Among the amateurs, Joyce Kamau emerged the overall winner after posting an impressive 41 points whilst Sanjay Kotecha was the top placed man with 40 points beating Martin Wahome on countback. Truphena Oyaro was the top lady with 39 points and Teresia Odoo was second on 34 points. Odoo also claimed the longest drive prize for ladies whilst George Munyao won the longest drive contest for men. Mary Kandu was nearest to the Pin.

The Professionals now embark on the main 4-day 72-hole Safari Tour event with a total prize kitty of Sh1m. The winner will take home about Sh180,000. The event tees off on Sunday 19^th August and concludes on Wednesday 22^nd August. After the second round on Monday 20^th August, the field will be reduced to the top 20 players.

Nyali’s elite amateur players will join the professionals through the four rounds as part of the Safari Tour’s development program. The amateurs include Kelly Rob, William Kaguta, George Munyao, Temi Katembo and Adel Balala.

Safari Tour Calendar 2018/19:

Event 1 – Nyali Golf & CC – 18 – 22 August

Event 2 – Vet Lab SC – 1 – 5 Sept

Event 3 – Limuru Country Club – 27 – 31 October

Event 4 – Thika Greens- 10 – 14 November

Event 5 – Karen Country Club – 15 – 19 December

Event 6 – Muthaiga Golf Club – 12 – 16 Jan

Event 7 – SAFARI TOUR CLASSIC – FEBRUARY – Venue TBC.

Total Prize Money per event: KSH 1 Million.

Mohit Mediratta of Sigona during today’s practice round.

By DANIELLA APIYO

Kenyan professional golfers will this weekend play for a Sh 1 million prize kitty in the first leg of the Safari Tour golf series which is set to tee off on Sunday at the Nyali Golf & Country Club in Mombasa.

The Nyali event will feature leading Kenyan professionals including Dismas Indiza, Jacob Okello, Riz Charania, Simon Ngige, Justus Madoya, Nelson Mudanyi and Jeff Kubwa. The Professionals will join amateur golfers on Saturday in a Pro-Am competition which will also be attended by Mombasa Governor HE Hassan Joho before starting the Tour proper on Sunday through to Wednesday. The professional winner will take home approximately Sh180,000.

Speaking ahead of the Nyali leg, Kenya Open Golf Limited Chairman, Peter Kanyago reiterated that KOGL was committed towards ensuring that the local pros get the best preparation possible ahead of the 2019 Kenya Open.

“At the Kenya Open Golf Limited, we have always been keen on ensuring that our local pros are best prepared to take on the Kenya Open. With the stakes higher at the 2019 Kenya Open, we decided to start preparations for our pros early on, and thus the Safari Tour. We hope that this tour will enhance our professional players skills well enough to challenge for the win next year,” he said.

Professional Golfers of Kenya Chairman Mr. Charan Thethy lauded KOGL for putting the Safari Tour and added that it will go a long way to prepare the professionals ahead of the 2019 Kenya Open.

“On behalf of the PGK, I want to congratulate and thank KOGL for putting together this series. We are confident that it will go a long way in adequately preparing our pros to take on the 2019 Kenya Open championship.”

Today, the professional golfers will conduct a free golf clinic for Junior golfers at the Nyali Golf and Country Club.