Team Kenya for the Africa Amateur Golf Team Championships pose for a photo at Muthaiga Golf Club today.

By KGG REPORTER

Reigning golfer of the year John Karichu will skipper Team Kenya when the 15^th edition of Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship (AAGTC) tees off at the Limuru Golf and Country Club on 11^th of October. Kenya, represented by five players in a tournament that has 18 African countries contesting will be seeking her maiden title having fallen short in the last fourteen editions.

Paul Muchangi, Bo Gera, Jay Sandhu and John Kariuki will be coached by experienced professional golfer Brian Njoroge in the six day event that concludes on the 16^th of October. The Africa Amateur Golf Team Championships is contested over four rounds of stroke play, Each team has four players but only the best three scores per round is counted towards the team total. The country with the lowest gross score at the end of the championships will be crowned the AAGTC champion.

The most outstanding player who scores best during the championships will also be awarded a prize for the overall individual winner. South Africa has dominated the tournament with victories in Botswana in 2003, 2005 in Kampala Uganda, Namibia in 2007, Egypt in 2009, 2011 at home and also won the last edition staged in Swaziland in 2013.

Kenya is hosting the event for the first time since its inauguration and faces a strong challenge against visiting teams from South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Namibia, Tunisia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Egypt, Seychelles and Cote D’ Ivoire.

Kenya’s hopes of challenging the title rests mostly on Karichu who’s been prominent in the Gotty run in the past three years. The novices patrnering him against the continents finest amateurs must be at their best ever if that dream of breaking South Africa’s dominance is realized.

“I have faith in myself and my partners because I’ve played with them in many tournaments. If we maintain cool heads we can win the event. Home advantage should also aid us but generally our mind frame going into each game will matter most,” Karichu said after the tournament launch which saw Kenya Tourism Board and AAR Health Care dish out Sh1 million and Sh500,000 respectively for the championships. nike air max womens nike air max womens

MISSING IN ACTION: Justus Madoya in previous action. He is among the top players not in the national team named today.

By KENYA GOLF GUIDE REPORTER

Top amateur players were today omitted as Kenya Golf Union named the national team to represent the country at this year’s Africa Amateur Championships set for Limuru Golf and Country Club between October 10 and 16.

This was after a controversial 54-hole qualifying event that ended at Limuru Golf Club today.

Among the notable omissions are Kericho’s William Odera who is second in the Golfer Of The Year (GOTY) standings, Kenneth Bollo who is third, fourth placed Alfred Nandwa Fifth placed Justus Madoya of Great Rift Valley and veteran Robinson Owiti of Vet Lab who was once the team’s captain and is sixth in the Goty standings.

Current Goty leader, John Karichu of Limuru has, however, made the team, earning an automatic qualification and is likely to be named the captain, by the other members of the squad who include Royal duo of Jay Sandhu and Bo Ciera and Limuru duo of John Kariuki and Paul Muchangi may raise eye brows.

Muchangi is ranked seventh in the Goty standings and Ciera is ranked ninth. Kariuki and Sandhu are not in the top 10.

The five member squad is expected to undergo a two-week training at Limuru Club from Monday under the tutelage of KGU’s golf development officer Brian Njoroge from where the team of four players will be named.

“Kenya Golf Union is pleased to announce the team that will represent Kenya in the forthcoming Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship 2015 to be held from 10th October to 16^th October 2015 at Limuru Country Club, Kenya. The team is comprised of strong and experienced players,” said KGU chairman Anthony Muhoro.

He added: “The selection of the team was through a qualifying round where all players were subjected to a 54-holes strokeplay event held at Limuru Country Club on 21^st and 22^nd September 2015. The event attracted about 53 golfers.”

Muhoro said the Team to Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship will be led by Head of Delegation Mr. Anthony Muhoro- Chairman, Mr. Muchau Githiaka -Tournament Director and the team coach Mr. Brian Njoroge.

So far, Egypt, Botswana, Tanzania, Mauritius, Cote di Voire, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia,Tunisia,Uganda, Senegal, Seychelles, Kenya, Swaziland, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Rwanda have all confirmed participation in the competition.

The Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship is a biennially tournament hosted by members of Africa Golf Confederation (AGC). This is the first time in history that Kenya will be hosting this event. In 2013 the event was hosted by Swaziland Golf Union. The event is hosted under the auspices of The R&A of Scotland, Africa Golf Confederation whose membership is open to all National Golf Associations of Countries in Africa. The event remains one of the most prestigious golf competitions in Africa. Each country is represented by four players and the format is 72- holes strokeplay competition. pandora charms cheap pandora charms cheap