Barclays Bank pens Sh90m Kenya Open deal

Barclays Bank of Kenya Managing Director, Jeremy Awori, presents a Sh90 million dummy cheque to the Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) Chairman, Peter Kanyago, for the sponsorship of the Barclays Kenya Open Golf tournament at Karen Golf Club on February 11, 2016. The bank has extended its sponsorship of the tournament for another three years. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

What you need to know:

  • This year’s prize money has been raised to 220,000 Euro (Sh25 million) from last year’s 200,000 (Sh22.8 million).
  • The Kenya Open, which will be held from March 17 to 20 at Karen Country Club, is one of the oldest events in the European Challenge Tour series.
  • It is among the top 10 events in the series because of the prize money.
  • This will be fourth year that Karen will be hosting the event.
  • The Barclays Centennial Golf Festival which will take place between March and May this year, will include a Junior Golf tournament in Muthaiga, two corporate tournaments, a ladies invitational, which will be held in partnership with the Kenya Ladies Golf Union, a professional’s tournament and the Inter Club Pro Am qualifier.

Barclays Bank of Kenya has extended its sponsorship of the Kenya Open Golf Championship with a new package of Sh90m for the next three years.

This is an increase from a Sh64 million deal, which ended last year.

This year’s prize money has been raised to 220,000 Euro (Sh25 million) from last year’s 200,000 (Sh22.8 million).

The Kenya Open, which will be held from March 17 to 20 at Karen Country Club, is one of the oldest events in the European Challenge Tour series.

It is among the top 10 events in the series because of the prize money.

This will be fourth year that Karen will be hosting the event.

The title is up for grabs as last year’s winner, South Africa’s Haydn Porteous, who is now competing in the main European Tour, is not likely to defend it.

BARCLAYS SPONSORSHIP

Barclays is so far, the longest serving title sponsor of the Open.

The bank first sponsored the championship back in 2011 to mark its 95th anniversary.

The following year it became the title sponsor when it signed a four-year Sh64 million pact.

During the cheque presentation at the launch of this year’s event at Karen Club on Thursday, Barclays Bank managing director Jeremy Awori said in addition to the three-year package, the bank will stage six tournaments dubbed the “Barclays Centennial Golf Festival”.

This, he said, would be part of the bank’s centennial celebrations.

KENYA AS A GOLF DESTINATION

“Kenya has great golfing potential, as showcased by the level of talent that is presented each year.

We want to play our part in helping position Kenya as Africa’s leading golf destination,” said Awori.

The Barclays Centennial Golf Festival will include a Junior Golf tournament in Muthaiga, two corporate tournaments, a ladies invitational, which will be held in partnership with the Kenya Ladies Golf Union, a professional’s tournament and the Inter Club Pro Am qualifier.

The festival will take place between March and May this year. Kenya Open Golf Limited chairman Peter Kanyago thanked Barclays for its continued support.

He said the two Pro-Am events will be held on March 15 and 16 at Karen Club.