Big guns ready to rumble in 2017 Kenya Open

What you need to know:

  • A field of 156 players including six amateurs will be parading from 7am in the first round of the Barclays Kenya Open 2017.
  • This year’s Open promises to be a thrilling one for golf enthusiasts.

The big chase for the top cash prize of 35,200 Euros (Sh3.9 million) and a chance to earn a European Tour Card, is on Thursday morning at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course where a field of 156 players including six amateurs will be parading from 7am in the first round of the Barclays Kenya Open 2017.

And by the look of things, this year’s Open promises to be a thrilling one for golf enthusiasts.

It is the best field witnessed in Kenya over the past 10 years. Besides the young and upcoming stars, this year’s event has attracted a galaxy of stars who have been up at the highest level, the PGA European Tour.

They are here to try and make their way back. Many players in the world have used the Open as the launching pad to the big league in pro golf.

Those who played in the European Tour last year but did not perform well include France’s Adrien Saddier, England’s Mathew Baldwin, South Africa’s Jaco Ahlers, Germany’s Sebastian Heisele and England’s Max Orrin.

They are chasing their way back to the “Road to Dubai’’ series for 2018, and will most probably be the players to beat. But that aside, the event has attracted among others, defending champion Sebastian Soderberg who is hoping to draw on the positive memories of last year’s victory at Karen as he seeks to become the first European Challenge Tour player to retain the title in 13 years.

The Swede memorably held off the charge of then-amateur Romain Langasque of France at Karen Country Club to seal a maiden Challenge Tour win by three shots.

This year, the Open returns to its traditional home Muthaiga, a course, Soderberg does not know though he is confident his performance last year can inspire him to similar heights as he bids to follow Daniel Vancsik at the 2004 Abierto Telefonica and win the same event in consecutive years.

LOST MOMENTUM

During the 2016 season, Soderberg played well in the early stages of the Challenge Tour but fell by the way side and missed a chance to join the “Race to Dubai’’ series.

He is however yet to earn a European Tour at the European Tour Qualifying School though with limited playing opportunities, has had to lead him back to the Challenge Tour for the season-opener to try and see if a back to back win can propel him straight to the big league.

The presence of a strong Dutch team is something that may worry Soderberg and some of the past winners like South Africa’s Jake Roos, and Englishman Robert Dinwiddie.

Last weekend, one of the Dutch players Wil Besseling produced an impressive 12 under par score, to win the inaugural KCB Karen Masters. The two identical 66 showed that Besseling is more than set for this week at Muthaiga.

Former Open champion Maarten Lafeber, Reinier Saxton and Daan Huizing who finished in eighth place on 10 under 270 at Karen are also in the mix.

Locally, home player Greg Snow is on form and raring to go, going by his 71 and a second round 66 at the Karen Masters, having won the Jamii Telkom PGK Masters with five under par score at the tough playing Sigona course.

It will also be interesting to see how the long-hitting Dismas Indiza, South Africa-based Stefan Andersen, and Vet Lab’s Brian Njoroge perform.

The last time Andersen went past the first two rounds is when the Open was held at Muthaiga in 2012 where he made the top 20.

On the other hand, Indiza would like to keep behind his nightmare at the 13th hole in 2012, to improve his performance at Muthaiga and last year’s 38th finish at Karen.

There are 22 Kenyan pros this year and six amateurs who include the 16-year-old Agil Is-Haq from Nyali and Mombasa who will be the youngest players. Of the six, Kenya Amateur Strokeplay champion Alfred Nandwa of Railway looks a good bet for the amateur trophy.