Top amateurs face-off at Nyali

What you need to know:

  • The first round of the 72-hole strokeplay event is set for 12 noon Friday.
  • Leading the field will be Kenya Railway Golf Club’s Alfred Nandwa who led Kenya’s team to Victoria Falls for the just concluded Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship.

The stage is set as an all-star field of 84 amateurs drawn from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania converge on the par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club course for this year’s Kenya Open Amateur Golf Championship which returns to the Coast region after 13 years.

The first round of the 72-hole strokeplay event is set for 12 noon Friday where leading the field will be Kenya Railway Golf Club’s Alfred Nandwa who led Kenya’s team to Victoria Falls for the just concluded Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship.

Nandwa, who is probably playing in his last amateur event, has been in great form over the past two months as was evident during the Africa Championship where he shot seven over par, to finish in the top 10 of the individual category.

WAHOME WANTS TITLE

Though the event has attracted players like Uganda’s Adolf Muhumuza and Ronald Rugumayo and Tanzania’s Victor Joseph and Amani Said, Nandwa’s serious challenge is likely to come from his compatriots such as local hero and two times Coast Open champion Mathew Wahome.

Wahome, currently based in South Africa, is out to win the event so that he qualifies for next year’s Barclays Kenya Open.

Besides Wahome, hosting club Nyali has also entered Kenya’s top junior amateur Agil Is-Haq, and Daniel Nduva and his brother George Munyao while from up-country.

The current leader in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series John Karichu of Limuru, and his club-mate Paul Muchangi, Railway’s Samuel Njoroge, Edwin Mudanyi of Vet Lab and Royal Nairobi’s Dennis Saikwa, Jay Sandhu and Kenneth Bollo will also be in action.

DARAJA CAPITAL EVENT IN RUIRU

Elsewhere, the par 72 Ruiru Sports Club hosts the inaugural Daraja Capital golf tournament which has attracted a big field of 200 players some of whom are winners in recent competitions.

Club captain Anthony Kamau says the course is currently in great condition and that some high scores are anticipated during the event.

“With the rains, the course is in very good shape and coming in the middle of the Club Championship, competition is stiff across all handicaps,” said the captain.
The tournament comes hot on the heels of a series of other successful competitions at the club, among them Fresha Golf Day, AAR Healthcare and Ponyea India. Teeing off is set for 7am with post entries still being accepted.