Beaten at home again! Where is the region falling short at Kenya Open?

Watching American Jordan Spieth and South African Haydn Porteous making history at the USA Masters and Barclays Kenya Open respectively left more questions than answers on what the region's players are not doing right.

The 21-year-old Spieth became the second youngest player to win the Masters with an equally history making 18-under 270 that matched the 72-hole tournament record and age set by Tiger Woods in 1997.
Porteous, who turns 20 on July 8 this year, became the youngest player to win Kenya Open after beating childhood play mate Brandon Stone in a thrilling play-off at the Karen Gold anf Country Club on Sunday.

(READ: Porteous holds off Stone for victory)

They had both tied on 17 under 271 but it’s Porteous who unleashed an exquisite mastery and immaculate composure, landing his short hole 12th tee shot on the greens before rolling a birdie to win. A bunker tee short saw Stone bogeying the hole even after Porteous lined up a par putt for him.

BEST FINISHER

Kenya’s best-placed golfer was Dismas Indiza, who finished joint 27th. Indiza has been consistent in making the cut at the Open.

(READ: Long-hitting Indiza holds out against big boys)

South Africa boast some of the best golf course in the world, having 190 championship courses. That aside, most of their universities have high performance centres that enable their young and upcoming golfers go through a good transition from amateur to professional.

Kenya Open tournament director Patrick Obath says that the country and its members lack the smooth transition with no properly laid out structures from amateur level top professional ranks.

“There are no qualifying process in Kenya or nothing to test the abilities of players turning professional,” says Obath. “Players just want to turn professional so as to earn some quick money without really focusing on refining their act.”

Some of the South Africa players’ golfing early years paint a picture of a professional who has refined his art both on and off the course. Sunshine Tour that has several Challenge Tour events like Kenya Open, have programmes other than those in the Series.

“They have tournaments outside the Tour events where upcoming golfers from the amateur ranks get to test their level of skills. That is why most take our locals to the cleaners when they come for Kenya Open,” said Obath. “The fact that three of the four South Africans who came to Kenya made the cut explains it well.”

Obath opines that for Kenyan golf to grow, the game has to be included in the school’s extra curriculum activities so that golf clubs are able to have up coming players released for training or lessons. “Schools will need that guidance so that they have those willing to take up golf benefitting but at the moment it’s not possible even though clubs are willing to adopt some of these schools,” says Obath.

Besides Obath explains that Junior Golf Foundation and Golf Talent Foundation needs to have a golfing ambassador, who will go around the country to educate people on the game. “The game needs that person, who has succeeded in golf to go around and tell its story.”
Obath further says that professionals will need to get meaningful tournaments in the build up to the Kenya Open in future. “We have a plan for a serious regional tour and that should be come up for discussion in three weeks’ time.”

Elisha Kasuku, the Professional Golfers of Kenya sponsorship director, admits that things could be different if more professionals were sponsored to events outside the country ahead of the Open.

“We want to use much of the sponsorship from the local series in taking pros to the Sunshine Tour in South Africa and PGA Challenge Tour events in Europe. Those who train locally are able to gain 30 per cent compared to those at Sunshine Tour, who gain 70 per cent.”

CONSISTENT INDIZA

Kasuku said that is why Kenya’s Dismas Indiza, who is a regular at Sunshine Tour has been consistent in making the cut at Kenya Open even though he is yet to win the title.

Local professional David Wakhu opines that lack of fitness and proper diet are a major setback for the locals. “We lack proper golfing fitness,” Wakhu said. “I can imagine what our leading local professional Dismas Indiza, who has natural talent can do if he was fit. He would be A+ now.”

Wakhu said poor preparations by local pros leads to mental weakness when it comes to high magnitude events like the Kenya Open. “We lack teamwork and togetherness heading to Kenya Open.”

Indiza reckons that local professional need to adopt to the latest training technologies by embracing gym sessions, coaching and nutrition. “I had an awful back after I made the cut but some massage helped me a great deal,” said Indiza, who wants a camp held for local professionals two weeks before the Kenya Open.

“We need to play on hard greens just like at Kenya Open with tee off pins at the back rather than in front,” says Indiza.

REGIONAL OPEN
Uganda’s Deo Akope and Rwandese Jean-Batiste Hakizimana, who made his Kenya Open debut want a strong and consistent regional tour introduced.