Kenyan pros set for Magical Kenya Open

A total of 13 professionals including Uganda’s Philip Kasozi are now set for the 2019 Magical Kenya Open set for March 14 to 17 at Karen Country Club.

Nine players qualified after the six rounds of the 2018/2019 Safari Tour while an additional three made it from the seventh leg of the tour at Karen Country Club this week. The Karen event was initial a practice round for the pros though Kenya Open Golf Limited was good enough in offering a chance for three more slots.

The Great Rift Valley Resort’s Justus Madoya and Uganda’s Philip Kasozi qualified on their own right while Royal Nairobi’s Eric Ooko beat Golf Park’s Jacob Okello in a play-off for the third slot. However the KOGL are reported to have invited Jacob Okello to also join the rest of the Kenyans as one of the guest players.

The 13 will be joined by Kenya’s six amateurs, making a total of 18 Kenyans and one Ugandan in the Open which is part of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai series.

The team was official unveiled by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala at a ceremony at the Nairobi National Park where all the players including the six amateurs attended the function.

Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Balala said: “As a Ministry, we are proud to unveil the Kenyan Pros and elite amateurs who will represent Kenya at the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship which is set to provide exposure to Kenya as a preferred golf tourism destination both on the local and international scene.”

The Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary hailed the prominent role that sports has played in raising Kenya’s global profile as a destination, citing the exploits of individuals such as Eliud Kipchoge who broke the world marathon record at the 2018 Berlin Marathon as a major boost to Kenya’s recognition on the world map.

“We are committed to leveraging on sports in order to create a stronger brand association between our sports personalities and Kenya as a destination. This is why we are intent on supporting our champions in the fields of athletics, rugby and golf to market Kenya as the preferred sports destination.”

The CS further said that through the Government of Kenya’s Sh 250 million sponsorship support, the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship will prominently position Kenya as a destination to a global audience through live TV broadcasting opportunities that will be availed through the tournament’s new status as a European Tour tournament.

“The Magical Kenya brand will receive wide visibility through live coverage by the European Tour (ET) Production Team that will be transmitted to over 490 million homes in more than 150 countries, generating in excess of 2200 global broadcast hours for each event. The live feed will be available to 40 broadcasters around the world including Sky Sports in the UK and The Golf Channel in the U.S. DSTV’s SuperSport are the official broadcasters in Africa.”

Balala added: “Additionally, Kenya’s golf tourism offering will be on show to golfers and golf fans across the world through the European Tour TV (ETTV), a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week online golf channel that is available in every territory across the entire planet – reaching fans beyond the regular broadcast footprint.

This level of exposure is critical to Kenya’s tourism success especially viewed in light of the fact that the global golf travel market is between 6 and 9.1 million travellers. The U.S. - Kenya’s number one tourist source market - has the highest number of golf travellers at between 3.7 and 5.6 million travellers.”

Also at the event, was KOGL Chairman, Mr. Peter Kanyago said KOGL was grateful to the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, and by extension the Kenya Tourism Board, for the big support.

“It is our conviction that through this year's tournament's outreach through the vast live television broadcast, Magical Kenya will be positively profiled across the world. By extension, Kenya's tourism offering will be amplified through the engagement," he said.

The full line-up is made up of Greg Snow, Dismas Indiza, David Opati, Rizwan Charania, David Wakhu, Tony Omuli, John Wangai, Nelson Simwa, Simon Ngige, Erick Ooko, Justus Madoya, Philip Kasozi of Uganda Golf Club and Jacob Okello who remains the only successful Kenyan pro in the Open having finished second in 1998. The elite amateurs are Daniel Nduva, Samuel Njoroge, Mutahi Kibugu, Edwin Mudanyi, Mike Kisia and Dubai based Bradley Mogire who plays his golf at Emirates Golf Club.