David Wakhu follows his tee shot during a past tournament. He will among the pros in action at Royal tomorrow for the next four days.

By FIDEL ONO

Kenyan  professionals resume the hunt for Order of Merit points, and cash in the 2014 KCB Golf Tour series at Royal Nairobi Golf Club course. The first round of the 72-hole tournament which is the second in this year’s series following the opening leg at Thika Greens Resort, is scheduled for Tuesday (tomorrow).

At the close of entries middle last week, a total of 41 professionals had listed their names to play in the one million shillings tournament where the overall winner will take home Sh192,000 and Sh145, 000 for the second placed player. However tournament director Elisha Kasuku  said one of the two South Africa based players Stefan Andersen had confirmed participation while  Nelson Mudanyi  is yet to confirm. Kasuku however said Mudanyi will be allowed to play if he arrives in the country on time. “I have not been able to get Mudanyi, but if he arrives early enough, he will be able to tee off and so is Muthaiga’s  Anil Shah who has been away in the USA since last week.

However, most if not all the country’s leading professionals  are definitely set to  tackle the par 72 Royal Nairobi. They include local pros Charan Thethy, his younger brother Hardeep Thethy, Hesbon Kutwa, David Wakhu, and Erick Ooko. Also listed at Royal is Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige who goes to Royal as they leader of the series having take the first leg at Thika, as well as Kenya’s most known professional Dismas Indiza who led a strong contingent of 12 pros to Kigali for the weekend’s Rwanda Open at Kigali Golf Club where he shot nine over par to finish four shots behind the winner  Rwandan pro Jean Baptiste Hakizimana.

Tournament director and senior pro Elisha Kasuku is happy with the entry. “ I must say I am very happy with the entry list so far and will be very glad to see even more players coming at Royal on Tuesday’’ said Kasuku during the weekend. This year, KCB has set aside a total of Sh24m from which, Sh5.7m will be prize fund for the professionals with the grand finale at Nyali in September offering Sh3 million. In addition, the top three pros in the order of Merit after the end of the series will be sponsored to play in next year’s Sunshine Tour series. The pros are playing four rounds with the fourth round being a pro-am round on Friday where they will be joined by Royal members and guests of KCB. nike air max junior nike air max junior

Anil Shah follows his tee shot during a past event. He is the reigning order of merit winner.

By FIDEL ONO

Thika’s Simon Ngige carries a single point lead ahead of next week’s second leg of the KCB ProAM Golf tour to be held at the par 72 Royal Nairobi Golf Club between July 8 and 11.

According to the competition’s order of merit, C. J. Wangai of Railway Club is hot on the heels of Ngige, trailing the leader by a single point and it will be interesting to see if Ngige survives the pressure in the next round.

Royal’s Anil Shahties in third position in the order of merit on 11.5 alongside Golf Park’s David Opati, while Nyali’s Kopan Timbe, Nyanza’s David Odhiambo, Mumias’ Dismas Indiza, Royal’s Erick Oooko and Vet Lab’s Mathew Omondi all have eight points and trail the leader by six points.

According to Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) captain Kopan Timbe, the pros will play a 72 hole competition where the cut off will be placed after 36 holes and the top 20 players and ties will play the last two rounds alongside KCB staff and customers.

“The prize money for the Royal round is Ksh1million and it is expected to be full house as 98 percent of the local professionals have confirmed participation,” said Timbe.

There are five events this year and the best player will take home Ksh200, 000 from the sponsor and the best three will be sponsored to play at next year’s Kenya Open Golf Championships as well as the Sunshine Tour in South Africa.

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