Nduva eyes successful StrokePlay defence

What you need to know:

  • Hosts Sigona will be looking for youngster Adam Tayebjee to keep the trophy at home.
  • Teeing off in Friday’s first round is set for 11.40am, while the second and third rounds will take place on Saturday morning and afternoon, with the final round of the prestigious event, which has been taking place annually since 1978, will be on Sunday morning.

Fresh from his easy seven shots victory in the Congolese Open last week, South Africa-based Daniel Nduva may be the man to beat as he leads a star field of 72 players from across East Africa to Sigona Golf Club this Friday in defence of his Kenya Amateur Open Stroke-Play Golf championship title.

The plus two handicapper, a member of Nyali Golf and Country Club, early this year beat Limuru’s Paul Muchangi in the final match of the 2018 Kenya Open Amateur Match-Play Championship to become the first amateur golfer in the country to book a ticket to next year’s Kenya Open.
A victory at the par 72 Sigona course this weekend will make him among the few Kenyans to have completed a double in the country’s two major amateur events.

A long hitter, Nduva, who has been enjoying great form over the past four months, will meet among others, Tanzania’s top amateur Victor Joseph from Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club, who finished second during the 2017 event, at Nduva’s home course of Nyali Golf and Country Club, Mombasa.

Also drawn at Sigona is another top Tanzanian player, Abbas Adam and Uganda’s Joel Basalaine, who was among the amateurs, who made cut during the recent Uganda Open at Entebbe Golf Club, Uganda.

Leading the local challenge besides Paul Muchangi and his club-mates John Karichu and former champion John Kariuki, will be Vet Lab Sports Club’s Edwin Mudanyi, who emerged the overall winner of the 2017 Kenya Amateur Golf Championship series and, who is seeking a place in next year’s Kenya Open.

“I have been playing well since I recovered from my wrist injury and this weekend’s event being a qualifier for the Kenya Open, I will definitely give my best shot," said Mudanyi, who over the weekend finished two shots behind the new Tea Fields Trophy champion Samuel Njoroge of Railway, at the par 70 Kericho Golf Club course.

“The scores were terrible over the weekend because of the heavy rains, though we improved a bit the following day. I am hoping the weather will be better at Sigona during the weekend," added Mudanyi.

Other top amateurs chasing the Kenyatta Memorial Bowl, which is usually awarded to the overall gross winner in the Strokeplay Championship, will be Njoroge, who shot 71 and 76 to claim the Tea Fields Trophy on Sunday, where tying with Mudanyi for second place was Karichu and John Kariuki.

Currently leading in the KAGC series after his recent victory in the Kabete Open, Karichu would like to claim the Strokeplay title for an easy entry to the Open as opposed to waiting for the KAGC series title at the end of season.

Also drawn at Sigona, is Royal Nairobi’s Jay Sandhu, Railway’s John Lejirmah, Robinson Owiti and Mike Kisia of Vet Lab and Muthaiga’s Mutahi Kibugu.

Hosts Sigona will be looking for youngster Adam Tayebjee to keep the trophy at home.

Teeing off in Friday’s first round is set for 11.40am, while the second and third rounds will take place on Saturday morning and afternoon, with the final round of the prestigious event, which has been taking place annually since 1978, will be on Sunday morning.