Timely boost for trio as the Open gets underway

What you need to know:

  • The three - Nicholas Rokoine, Anil Shah and Nelson Mudanyi all from Muthaiga Golf Club - will be kitted top to bottom.
  • Three other professionals Simon Ngige of Thika Sports Club, Vet Lab’s Mathew Omondi and Nyali’s Kopan Timbe will play under the barner of Pan Africa.

Three of the local professionals started yesterdays first round of the 2014 Barclays Kenya Open golf championship at Karen fully kitted and without the usual tournament expenses that a professional has to meet to play in the European Challenge Tour event.

The three - Nicholas Rokoine, Anil Shah and Nelson Mudanyi all from Muthaiga Golf Club - will be kitted top to bottom. Besides catering for playing t-shirts for all four rounds, caps, golf bags and balls, the sponsorship also covers transport to and from Karen, meals, tournament entry fees and caddie fees as well as accommodation if they so choose to stay within the Karen area.

Courtesy of Rapid Communications company, the three leading pros had nothing else to worry but tackle the strong windy and hard greens at the par-72 Karen Country Club which is hosting the 200,000 Euro event for the second year running.

TALENTED PLAYERS

Speaking in Nairobi after concluding the sponsorship deal worth Sh425,000, Rapid Communications CEO Anwar Majid Hussein said Kenya has very talented professionals capable of winning the Open and other international events.

He, however, said local pros need support in order for them to completely focus on the event rather than being preoccupied by thoughts on where to find caddies fees or all the other expenses a player needs in such tournaments.

“This is where we as corporate organizations come in. We need to invest in them so that they we can demand performance from them’’ said Anwar himself a golfer. He said his company was considering supporting the players during the local pro golf series.

“We are still negotiating with them with the view of making this support an annual venture,’’ added Anwar who also sponsored Rokoine for the 2010 Kenya Open. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Anil who is also the resident professional at Muthaiga, said playing in such events as the Open without having all the necessary requirements has been the biggest issue for the local professionals.

“You don’t expect a Kenyan pro to win the Open, leave alone making the cut if he does not have even enough money for caddie fees and as simple things golf balls,’’ said Anil. He said the sponsorship was a motivating factor for any pro preparing for a major tournament.

Three other professionals Simon Ngige of Thika Sports Club, Vet Lab’s Mathew Omondi and Nyali’s Kopan Timbe will play under the barner of Pan Africa.

The three on Wednesday received a sponsorship package worth Sh300,000 from Pan Africa Life’s General Manager Individual Life Ezekiel Owuor at Karen Country Club.

The sponsorship covers t-shirts, accommodation, transport and Sh30,000 allowance for each one of them.