Big field for Kenyatta Cup in Ruiru
Kenya's Dismas Indiza follows the progress of his shot from the 9th hole fairway on the second day of Barclays Kenya Open golf tournament at Karen Golf and Country Club March 18, 2016. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Long-hitting Indiza leads quest for Kitale Diaspora honours as Chairman’s Prize attracts 250 at Muthaiga
- 125 players to battle it out for goodies in the annual tourney at par-72 course
On the backdrop of the Mashujaa Day tournament, which coincided with the Club-night that attracted a field of 220 golfers, Ruiru Sports Club’s par-72 course will this weekend stage the annual Kenyatta Cup.
Launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2014, this year’s tournament has attracted a field of 125 players.
Club captain Martin Karanja however expects the entry to reach 200 by the time the event tees off at 6am on Saturday because neighbouring Thika Sports Club will be staging the final round of this year’s Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship, which has handicap restriction therefore a big number of Thika members do not qualify to participate.
“This event has lived to its expectation by attracting a huge field of golfers. I anticipate over 200 players by the end of the day on Saturday. It’s been a great privilege and honour for us to host this annual tournament and we are grateful to the president for choosing our club,” said Karanja.
President Kenyatta has sponsored the event since 2014.
SERIES OF TOURNAMENTS
The captain said Ruiru has had a series of corporate tournaments in the recent past featuring an average of 200 golfers and the course has been prepared well to host the huge turn out expected for Kenyatta Cup.
Vying for the cup in the absence of defending champion Joseph Ndome and inaugural winner in 2014 Simon Kihiro will be, among others Anthony Kamau and Joel Wanyoike. Both have won tournaments recently.
Caroline Mwikali and Margaret Kamau, who are in the ladies category and have featured in the prize list in recent tournaments, are among players to watch.
TWO-DAY TOURNAMENT
Away in Kitale, a big field of 200 golfers, including seven Kenyan pros, will be converging on the par-73 Kitale Club course this weekend for the 4th edition of the Kitale Diaspora, a two-day tournament sponsored by members of Kitale Club residing out of Kitale.
In addition to the pros who will be playing for a Sh100,000 purse, Uganda’s top female golfer, Flavia Namakula, and her compatriot Patrick Mugishia, will also compete.
Club captain Ben Cheruiyot has said an array of prizes will be at stake for the amateurs.
He said the course was currently playing easy since it has not rained in Kitale over the past 10 days. But leading the chase for the cash prize among the pros will be long-hitting Dismas Indiza, formerly of Kitale Club but now based in Mumias.
He will be challenged by Eldoret’s Boniface Simwa, Nyanza’s David Odhiambo, Royal Nairobi’s David Wakhu, Joseph Karanja(Golf Park), and Vet Lab’s Aly Orende.
Back in Nairobi, the Chairman’s Prize (Bhavnish Chandaria) has attracted over 250 golfers at Muthaiga Club. The first round is set for Friday.
