Mathew Wahome chases history
What you need to know:
- Wahome, a former national junior champion, won the Coast Open (Barry Cup) in 2014 and 2015.
- Wahome flew back home last week from Cape Town ready to defend the most prestigious Barry Cup
South Africa-based Mathew Wahome is out for a record hat trick of victories in the annual Coast Open Golf Championship, Kenya’s oldest Golfer of The Year (Goty) event as he leads a field of 90 top amateur golfers to the nine-hole Mombasa Golf Club course this weekend.
Wahome, a former national junior champion, won the Coast Open (Barry Cup) in 2014 and 2015.
Now playing off scratch, Wahome flew back home last week from Cape Town ready to defend the most prestigious Barry Cup, sponsored by Tea Board of Kenya, Kericho Gold, Basco Paints, Gertrude Children Hospital and Crown Beverages.
The tournament marks its 97th year. If Wahome retains his title, he will become the second player to claim three wins in a row since A.J. Borland’s 1932, 1933 and 1934 wins.
Wahome is drawn with two of his main challengers Jeff Kubwa of Muthaiga and Royal Nairobi’s Kenneth Bollo in Saturday’s first round from 7am.
Other leading amateurs in search of the coveted title are Alfred Nandwa of Railway, Limuru’s Paul Muchangi and veteran Francis Kimani, Edwin Mudanyi of Vet Lab, and Coast-based players Daniel Nduva, George Munyao and Agil Is-Haq.
At Ruiru Sports Club, a big field of 200 players will be chasing an array of prizes in the Mabati Rolling Mills golf tournament, the fourth straight major event the club is hosting for the past one month.
Club captain Martin Karanja said the par 72 course was currently playing short and slightly easier than over the past month.
