Railway’s Nandwa man to beat at Kenya Open in Nyali
What you need to know:
- In addition to the Bowl, the locals will also be going for the World Amateur Ranking as well as the KAGC (Kenya Amateur Golf Championship) points.
- The winner (local) will also automatically book a place in next year’s Barclays Kenya Open.
Kenya Railway Golf Club’s Alfred Nandwa is the player to beat as East Africa’s leading amateur golfers parade at Nyali Golf and Country Club for this year’s Kenya Open Amateur Championship starting Friday.
Fresh from his top 10 finish in the just concluded Africa Amateur Golf Team in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Nandwa leads the local challenge after firing rounds of 71, 73, 77, 74 at the tough Elephant Hills Golf Resort course a score that saw him finish ninth overall on seven over par.
He beat former Uganda Open champion Ronald Otile who will not be contesting for the strokeplay championship’s Kenyatta Memorial Bowl donated in 1978 by two past Kenya Golf Union chairmen, Col Mike Harbage and Chris Kahara, both deceased.
Nandwa, who is also the defending champion of the Kenyatta Memorial Bowl, has been in great form and having played under 36 degrees at Elephant Hills, the Mombasa heat will not be factor for him.
This year, the tournament, which returns to Nyali for the first time since 2004 when Kopan Timbe clinched the title, has attracted a field of 84 players including Nyali’s Mathew Wahome - who flew in from his base in Cape Town last weekend specifically for this tournament.
Nyali has also other top players such as Daniel Nduva, who is also based in South Africa, Kenya’s top junior golfer Agil Is-Haq, former club chairman Gurbux Singh and George Munyao.
From upcountry besides Nandwa, will be players like Edwin Mudanyi, Paul Muchangi, John Karichu, Kenneth Bollo and Jay Sandhu. From Uganda will be Adolf Muhumuza, Ronald Rugumayo and Asaba Dennis while Tanzania will depend on Victor Joseph, Isaack Wanyeche, Amani Saidi and Seif Mcharo and Richard Mtweve.
In addition to the Bowl, the locals will also be going for the World Amateur Ranking as well as the KAGC (Kenya Amateur Golf Championship) points.
The winner (local) will also automatically book a place in next year’s Barclays Kenya Open.
This year, the event is being sponsored by the Kenya Golf Union, Deloitte, Equity Bank, Africa Gas and Oil Company, Windhoek Premium Lager and Nyali Golf and Country Club.
