Overall winner Saj Shah (right) receives the winner’s trophy from Eng. John Tanui during the Nyali Chairman’s Prize in Mombasa. Shah carded 40 points.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Nyali Golf and Country Club’s Saj Shah carded a round of 40 points to win the Chairman’s Prize Tournament presented by Konza Technopolis on Saturday, beating a field of 247 participating golfers.
Playing off handicap 22, Shah earned an impressive 21 points in the first nine and 19 points in the second nine to record his second win in two years, having won the club’s Captain’s Overall Winner in January 2021 with 48 points.
Playing in the competition’s stableford format at the par 71 home club, Epapra Lagat, playing off handicap 22 carded 20 points in both the first and second nines to emerge the men’s winner ahead of Zafir Din who scored 22 points in the first nine and 18 points in the second nines to emerged Men’s Runner up. Dhanji Pindolia came third with 39 points.

In the Ladies’ category, Nyali’s Lady Captain Mary Kandu, playing off handicap 14, carded 39 points claim the top spot, two points ahead of her nearest challenger Truphena Oyaro who emerged second.
Meanwhile, 13 –year-old Ijaz-Is Haq, playing off handicap 19, hit an impressive score of 38 points on the course to emerge the best junior of the Taib Bajaber Chairman’s Prize.
The tournament was open to all men and lady members of the home club and other nearby clubs such as Mombasa Golf Club and Vipingo Ridge Golf Club.

Nyali’s Lady Captain Mary Kandu (l) poses with her trophy together with Konza Technopolis Director Caroline Kariuki and Nyali Golf Club Chairman Taib Bajaber.

Speaking at the tournament, Eng. John Tanui, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) said: “We are excited to collaborate with Nyali Golf Club in the Chairman’s Prize as part of our Konza Golf InvesTeeing Golf Series which we are organising across the country. The purpose of the Series is to engage the business community in this region to share what we have as an investment hub. Being a special economic zone and an upcoming city, we have many opportunities that we are sharing. Today’s tournament was aimed at deepening our relations with the investors.

The Konza InvesTeeing series seeks to attract, onboard and retain key investors at the upcoming smart city.

He added that Konza Technopolis’ anchor project, Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is ongoing and that KoTDA is also working towards developing a smart city.

During the tournament, the Club’s immediate Chairman Taib Bajaber expressed delight at the large number of players who participated in the Chairman’s Prize, adding they were glad to have a good number of sponsors.
“The members of Nyali Golf have turned out in large numbers of up to 247 today. We have also had a number of sponsors like Konza Technopolis, Kericho Gold and Kitui Flour Mills amongst others. We had the first tee off at 6 a.m. and the game has been good” he said.
The club held the Captain’s Prize in January as part of the clubs tradition to honor outgoing officials.

The Nyali tournament marked the 4th edition of the Konza InvesTeeing Golf Series whose inaugural edition was held on 25th September 2021 in Machakos Golf Club. The second leg of the tournament series moved to the par-72 Karen Country Club where Naivasha Sports Club’s Joseph Waigwa won with 41 points.
The third leg of the Series was held at Eldoret Club on 11th December 2021, where Eldoret Club’s Linda Kangogo carded a round of 42 points to emerge the overall winner of the tournament.

Sports CS Amina Mohamed (left) with Kenya Open Golf Limited chairman Peter Kanyago.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The much anticipated 53^rd edition of the Magical Kenya Open Championship is set to make a comeback at the Muthaiga Golf Club on 3-6 March, 2022. First held in 1967, the Kenya Open Golf Championship has continuously upheld its reputation as the stage for budding champions. It was quite common to see some of the best golfers in the world playing at the Kenya Open in the 1970s and 1980s. Golfing greats like Severiano Ballesteros and Ian Woosnam were some of the winners from years past. More recently, a quick look at the top 100 list reveals a good number of recent winners and participants of the Kenya Open Championship.

Inspecting the Muthaiga golf course, Sports, Culture and Heritage Cabinet Secretary, Amb. (Dr.) Amina Mohamed noted that the preparations for this year’s Magical Kenya Open are in top gear and commended the Kenya Open Golf Limited for maintaining international standards in the organization of the event.

“I am extremely proud that as a country, we are able to hold a sporting event that meets international standards, like the Magical Kenya Open,” said CS. Amina. “Our pristine and world-class golf courses have ensured that we have hosted golf giants since 1967, who have displayed their skills on the Kenyan soil.”

Appreciating government efforts in supporting the golf industry in the country, Kenya Open Golf Limited’s Chairman, Peter Kanyago said that he was happy that the government through the Sports Arts and Social Development Fund in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage had once again, generously stepped up to support the event through provision of the prize fund for the event.

“It is through government support and commitment that this event was elevated to the elite European Tour that eventually became the DP World Tour,” said Mr. Kanyago.

“We can confidently say that we are all set and ready for this year’s championship and happy to see it return to Muthaiga Golf Club, where it all started. We look forward to welcoming the players, spectators and our esteemed partners to experience the magic of the game of golf at the “home of golf”,” said Mr. Kanyago.

Sports CS Amina Mohamed makes her remarks during the official launch of the 2022 Kenya Open Golf Championships at Muthaiga Golf Club.

On his part, Tournament Director, Patrick Obath said that a field of 156 golfers will take part in the 2022 Magical Kenya Open with a prize purse of $ 2 million.

“With live global broadcast coverage across four days, the Magical Kenya Open is a great opportunity to promote Kenya as a golf destination to the world and support Kenyan golf. The event will be produced for live TV coverage across four days with the world feed being distributed all over the world,” he said.

He added that in accordance with government regulations on the Covid-19 pandemic, the event shall be held in strict adherence to health and safety protocols.

“While we are having an event with spectators this year, we have ensured that we have put in place adequate measures to protect the health of everyone who will be involved in the event. All government protocols with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic will be fully implemented throughout the tournament.”

The Magical Kenya Open has a history dating back to 1967 and appeared on the European Tour’s schedule for the first time in 2019, having previously taken its place on the Challenge Tour schedule since 1991.