Machakos hosts Year Opener Golf tourney

What you need to know:

  • The names from Malawi include that of the President of the Malawi Golf Union Hudson Kantwanje and the chairman of Malawi Sports Council James Chuma.
  • The event is once again sponsored by ICEA Lion and Gelian Hotel - whose chairman Alphonse Kioko will be among those expected to play and so is ICEA Lion Group’s Peter Mukuria.

With eight entries expected from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Uganda, the Year Opener Golf tournament at the par 72 Machakos Golf Club course set for next weekend is truly growing into an international event.

Machakos Golf Club captain Paul Musembi Katuku, who is the event’s co-convenor along with Malawi’s Frank Mvalo, Limuru’s David Ndungu and Machakos chairman Swarn Singh, said on Friday that eight players from Lilongwe Malawi had already confirmed their participation. Katuku added Zimbabwean golfer and two from Uganda are expected to join the growing list which includes golfers drawn from various clubs in the country.

“By the New Year, we should be able to know how many players have listed to play in the event," said Katuku.

The names from Malawi include that of the President of the Malawi Golf Union Hudson Kantwanje and the chairman of Malawi Sports Council James Chuma.

Also listed is Justice Ken Manda, a High Court judge in Malawi and a former captain of Lilongwe Golf Club, while others are Gershom Chima, David Kalenzi Atuhaire, Frank Mvalo and Justin Mkandawire a former Lilongwe Golf Club chairman.

The Malawi team will be meeting Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman Lucas Maranga at the KGU offices on Friday January 4 for a brief meeting before heading to Machakos for the event popularly known as the “King of The Course."

The event is once again sponsored by ICEA Lion and Gelian Hotel - whose chairman Alphonse Kioko will be among those expected to play and so is ICEA Lion Group’s Peter Mukuria.

During this year’s tournament, Kenya Railway Golf Club’s Adelbert Omooria hit a string of birdies with five holes to go, for an impressive three over par 39 points, to be crowned the “King of The Course 2018."

He has already listed his name to defend the title and so is Machakos Golf Club’s Jackson Maalu who clinched the men’s prize after posting 38 points following a countback with Dominic Kikuyu and South Africa-based Daniel Nduva - the Kenya Amateur Match Play champion.

The Machakos course is currently in an excellent condition and all set for the Year Opener which kicks off what is likely to be a busy golfing year for Machakos.