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

KGU Chairman Anthony Kuhoro at a past function.

By KGG REPORTER

Selection of the Kenya amateur national golf team to feature at the Africa Championship to be hosted by Kenya next month is currently embroiled in controversy with players questioning the criteria being used by the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) to pick the team.

The players are accusing KGU of ignoring its own set criteria for selecting the national team using the Golfer of The Year (GOTY) ranking; and instead introducing a qualifying round for the first time ever, a move they say is against the union’s own rules. According to KGU’s stipulations, Goty points will count towards the selection of the national team.

Teams from a number of African countries will feature in the continental championship scheduled to be played at Limuru Country Club from October 12 to 16, 2015. Each country will be represented by a four-member team.

KGU on Wednesday announced a 54-hole qualifying round to be played at Limuru Country Club on Monday and Tuesday, September 21 and 22, 2015, with 36 holes being played on Monday and 18 on Tuesday.

But the players who are opposed to qualifying round are reading an ulterior motive by KGU’s move which they say is meant to create room for certain players to make the team, at the expense of those occupying top places in the Goty ranking.

Speaking to the press yesterday, the immediate former captain of the team, Robinson Owiti, said he would boycott the qualifying round, noting that: “This is beyond golf. It is politics.”

Owiti at the same time questioned KGU’s rationale of giving John Karichu who is currently leading in the Goty ranking an automatic place in the national team, while subjecting the rest of the players to fight for the remaining three slots in the qualifying round. “Let everybody go for the qualifying round. KGU must be fair to all the players.”

Owiti argues that the first four players in the Goty ranking are supposed to make the team. And according to the current Goty ranking the four should be: Karichu (Limuru CC), William Odera (Kericho), Alfred Nandwa (Njoro captain) and himself (Owiti). But Odera and Nandwa are under suspension by KGU on cheating claims, which leaves the next two players in the raking – Justus Madoya (Golf Park) and Kenneth Bolo (Royal Nairobi) to fill the suspended players’ slots.

In May this year, Owiti wrote to KGU complaining that Kenya’s position in golf in Africa was dropping and that players were being disillusioned by some of the happenings within the union. At the time, had raised the issue of Goty points system which he said was being “corrupted” to favour certain players to play in the national team. air max 95 air max 95