Unrelenting Dismas Indiza trains eyes on KQ Series
What you need to know:
- This weekend’s event, whose first round begins this morning at the hilly par 73 Nakuru course below the Menengai forest, has a field of 28 pros.
- Dismas Indiza and Nicholas Rokoine are battling for a share of the Sh280,000 prize fund.
Fresh from his five shots victory at Royal Nairobi Golf Club last weekend, Kenya’s biggest hitter Dismas Indiza is the man to beat once again this weekend, as the local pros parade at Nakuru Golf Club for the Kenya Airways Golf Safari Series.
During the Barclays Bank Circuit at Royal, the Mumias-based Indiza shot nine under par 207 with a brilliant seven under par 65 in the second round to beat Muthaiga’s Nicholas Rokoine by five shots.
This weekend’s event, whose first round begins this morning at the hilly par 73 Nakuru course below the Menengai forest, has a field of 28 pros.
Besides Indiza and Rokoine, others battling for a share of the Sh280,000 prize fund will include Windsor’s David Opati who led at Royal before slipping back to third after a 74 in the closing round for 214.
Friday’s starting list also includes Thika’s Simon Ngige, formerly of Njoro, on-form David Wakhu of Royal, and Royal player Greg Snow who tied for sixth place at the club on 216 along with Frank Matilo and Eldoret based Boniface Simwa.
Others include local pros James Lorum and Richard Ainley as well as Nyanza’s David Odhiambo.
This weekend’s event is the first in a list of five the pros, who are preparing for the 2015 Kenya Open, have been included in.
Other events are set for Sigona, Vet Lab, Karen and the grand finale at Windsor on March 27.
Home pro James Lorum said the course was slightly dry hence playing short.
Missing in action on Friday will be the Professional Golf of Kenya (PGK) captain John Wangai whose club Sigona is hosting the first Golfer of The Year (GOTY), the Sigona Bowl on Friday and Saturday.
Whilst the pros will be battling it out for the cash prizes, three return tickets, one for any KQ Africa destination will be at stake for the field of 156 amateurs drawn from Nakuru, Njoro, Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley Resort.
They will not however include the central Rift’s top amateur Alfred Nandwa who is at Sigona for the Sigona. Nandwa, who has clinched a sponsorship deal with the Wine Company, finished third in last year’s GOTY series.
In his absence, Luther Kamau, Njuguna Njoka, Paul Muhia and the Smith brothers Kaleb and Kevin will fight for honours, while going for the ladies prize, will be Margaret Cheptumo, Clem Muli and Esther Karuga among others.
Internationally, action will be at Uganda Golf Club, Kampala where a big field will vie for the three tickets and slots to the grand finale.
