Nelson SImwa (left).

By FIDEL ONO (Writer)

Vet Lab’s Nelson Simwa started this year’s Kenya Strokeplay Championships on a bright note with a deserved round one lead at the par 72 Karen and Golf Country Club today.

With the winner of the four rounds competition expected to earn an automatic ticket to next year’s Kenya Open Golf Championships, the competition promises fireworks and the first round did not disappoint.

Simwa ended the first day on two under and will be hoping to maintain the lead tomorrow, when the players are expected to play 36-holes at the same venue before the championships end on Saturday with an 18-hole competition.

So far Tom Omuli is the only amateur player guaranteed of playing at next year’s Kenya Open Golf Championships after he won the Kenya Amateur Matchplay Championships at Windsor Club a few months ago and the ongoing Strokeplay event would see the other players fight neck to neck to earn a ticket. Simwa is currently second in the Golfer Of The Year (GOTY) series.

Mathew Omondi also of Vet Lab was placed second on level par 72 after beating John Njoroge, R. Njoroge and GOTY leader David Opati of Golf Park on count back. huarache pas cher huarache pas cher

David Opati in action during this year’s Kenya Open. He is seeking a ticket to next year’s Kenya Open when the Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championships tee off at Karen Club tomorrow.

By JAMES WAINDI (Chief Editor)

International golfer David Opati plans to seal his ticket to next year’s Kenya Open Golf tournament with an outright win at this year’s Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championships to be held at the par 72 Karen Golf and Country Club from tomorrow morning.

The winner of the 72-hole competition will earn an automatic ticket to the 2013 Kenya Open Golf Limited Championship set for early next year.

According to Opati who currently leads the Golfer Of The Year (GOTY) standings with 84.60, predicts a tough tournament and said the Strokeplay Championship was the most vital tournament in the remaining four tournament’s in the GOTY series.

“There are only four tournaments remaining in the GOTY series and I believe this weekend’s Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship is the most important tournament, because the winner there would book an automatic ticket to next year’s Kenya Open Championship,” said Opati who plays off handicap +3.

He added: “I will be going for nothing less than the top prize. I have been playing good golf of late and I plan to make it count at Karen.”

The first round on Thursday will be 18-holes, while Friday the players will play 36-holes and Saturday the players will play 18-holes. ggdb ggdb