KGU set to name team for EA Challenge Cup

The Kenyan national golf team for this year's East Africa Challenge Cup in Uganda will be named soon after the Kabete Open at Vet Lab from August 8.

The team will be named early since the East Challenge Cup, whose 2013 edition was staged at the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort in Naivasha, has been brought forward from November to August.

Speaking during the weekend's Coast Open at the Mombasa Golf Club, newly elected Kenya Golf Union(KGU) chairman Peter Warui said his committee like last year, will give consideration to the country's junior players.
"We had four of our juniors in the team last year and we intend to do the same this year as this is the only way we can give our youngsters the exposure they need,'' Warui told Nation Sport at Sigona Golf Club.

He, however, said logistics had forced the union to agree not send a team in the World Amateur Championship in Japan later this year. "We have decided not to send a team for the world championship for the Eisenhower trophy," said the new KGU boss.

AGC CUP

Eisenhower trophy, which is the world's most prestigious golf title, is held once every two years. Warui also revealed that Kenya will take part in the inaugural Africa Golf Confederation President's Cup in Kitwe Zambia in September.

The AGC boss Ambassador Joe Malanji is meeting all the expenses including accommodation and all that countries are required to do is get return air tickets to the team of four players and two officials.

The last time Kenya sent a team to the Eisenhower trophy was in 2010 in Argentina. The KGU boss regretted that Kenya will miss the world championship for the second time in a row.

He further paid great tribute to Nyali Golf and Country Club for producing the highest number of juniors in the country.

"The four juniors who were nominated for the national team all come from Mombasa and that is commendable for Nyali and in particular Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) trustee Taufiq Balala who has used his resources to develop junior golf in the country," said Warui who was elected a week ago to replace Royal Nairobi's Francis Okwara.

This year, the 95-year-old Barry Cup in the Coast Open was won by 16-year-old Mathew Wahome of Nyali on one under par total of 141 gross, beating Kenya's number one amateur John Karichu of Limuru by three shots.