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

KBL Managing Director Jane Karuku (left) and Kenya Open Golf tournament Director Patrick Obath during the cheque presentation.

By Amanda Damaris

Kenya Breweries Limited has today announced a KSh 6 million sponsorship towards the 50^th edition of Barclays Kenya Open Golf Tournament, through its Johnnie Walker brand.

This is the seventeenth year that KBL has sponsored the tournament and the second year for the Johnnie Walker brand. The tournament will take place from 22^nd to 25^th March 2018 at Muthaiga Golf and Country Club. This year, 156 golfers, including about 22 Kenyan professionals, six Kenyan amateurs and over 100 European Challenge Tour players, are expected at the Championship.

Speaking during the cheque handover ceremony, KBL Managing Director, Mrs Jane Karuku noted the importance of Kenya Open Golf Championship to Johnnie Walker and KBL as it is one of Kenya’s top sporting events with a large local, regional and global reach.

“The Kenya Open Golf tournament has demonstrated a rich legacy of longevity that blends well with the Johnnie Walker brand that has been serving beverages for over 150 years. We are proud to be associated with this tournament, which is a key fixture in the golf circuit,” Mrs Karuku said.

KBL through its Johnnie Walker product range will provide drinks for the players and spectators. “KBL through Johnnie Walker and its brand character; perfect for sharing at life’s celebratory moments resonates with golf as an avenue to achieve these goals.  We welcome our continued participation in the sport and this year’s tournament is a validation of that,” added Mrs Karuku.

KBL has partnered with the Kenya Open tournament since the late 1980s, when the event was part of the Safari Tour. From 1998 to 2001, Tusker was the title sponsor of the Kenya Open and again from 2005 to 2009. From 2010 to 2016, Tusker Malt Lager was the Kenya Open official alcoholic beverage partner, delivering refreshment moments to golfing fans in a way that only the best, thereafter Johnnie Walker became the Gold Sponsor in 2017 and 2018. This year’s sponsorship deal is a KSh 1million increment from last year’s, reinforcing KBL’sconfidence in the event among golf lovers in the country.

Ms Karuku lauded the tournament’s organisers, for delivering what is arguably Kenya’s most prestigious golf tourney. “Efforts to consistently attract and maintain first-class standards have made the Kenya Open Golf what it is, for more than 50 years later” she added.

Speaking at the same event, Kenya Open Golf Limited Director, Dr. S. R Ndegwa, expressed delight at having KBL on board for Tournament. He also stated that this year’s tournament is set to offer a lot of exciting and fun activities for spectators.

He said the tournament has established itself as a competitive, fun and engaging activity for both players and spectators, attracting a new and younger audience each year.

“Our ambition as organisers of this tournament is to attract new and younger audiences. That is why we are always looking at new ways to innovate around our flagship events. We would like to make golf a game for everyone in Kenya,” he said.

Tournament Director Peter Obath said their main aim is to make the competition that will be held at the Muthaiga Golf Club from March 22-25 rise beyond Kenya Open and join the European Tour. pandora charms uk pandora charms uk