Indiza leads local pros in search of elusive Kenya Open title

Qualification for the European Tour’s Magical Kenya Open was concluded on Wednesday, 24 February at the Karen Country Club where a record 73 golfers had entered the ultimate round of the nine-leg series that was won by Dismas Indiza in a playoff. 

A journey that began in 2020 at Limuru Golf course culminated in 12 local golfers booking the coveted slots to play in the Open with an additional competition, newly introduced Savannah Classic awaiting the same field two days after the Open.

For his win at Karen, Indiza picked 75 points towards the Order of Merit which pushed him to top of the table with Zimbabwean Robson Chinhoi coming in second. Greg Snow who has been on the lead in the Order of Merit from the first round was relegated to third place. Snow missed cut at Karen after two rounds of three over par 74.  

In addition to Indiza and Snow Thika's Simon Ngige, who was one of the two local golfers to make cut in the 2019 Kenya Open which was running as European Tour event for the first time, collected points from all eight local events missing out on the Uganda Open points to place fourth in the Order of Merit and the third Kenyan to qualify for the Open. 

Sigona leg winner David Wakhu, Eric Ooko, John Wangai, Samuel Njoroge, Jastas Madoya, Edwin Inana, Riz Charania, Mathew Omondi and Jacob Okelo are the other Kenyans in the race for top price at Karen during the Open and Classic. 

In the last edition of the Open held in 2019, only Ngige and Madoya made cut. Kenya is yet to produce a winner in the competition since it was introduced as a challenge tour. Okello is the only Kenyan to ever have come close to winning after he finished second more than two decades ago.