Kenyans play for elusive golf bragging rights

Great Rift Valley Golf Resort's Justus Madoya, Sigona's John Wangai and Vetlab's Edwin Inana are the first Kenyans to tee off, from 7.10am, at the 2021 Magical Kenya Open playing between Thursday, 18 March and Sunday, 21 March at the Karen Country Club. 

Running as a European Tour event for the second time since making its debut in the main tour in 2019, the event is bringing together 156 golfers, including six amateurs for four days of action with the prize money set at Sh 130.6 million (1 million euros).

Fans from across the globe will, however, miss the first day of action as European Tour productions (ETP) announced that they would not televise the first round of action due to 'logistical difficulties' , but assured it would be business as usual for the remaining three rounds. 

Ten minutes after the trio tees of, Madoya at hole one and the other two at hole ten albeit in different groups, Anthony Juma will tee off from hole ten followed by Mathew Omondi at 7.30am.  

Railways' Samuel Njoroge and Vetlab's elite amateur Isaac Makokha tee of from hole one at 7.40 am with the only Kenyan to have come close to winning the event, Jacob Okello, teeing off hole one at 7.50 am.

A 40 minute period will elapse without a Kenyan golfer taking to the tee after which Greg Snow, amateur golfers Taimur Malik and Jay Sandhu as well as Dismas Indiza will take to the course at 8.40am. Snow and Indiza will tee off from hole 10. 

Limuru's elite amateur Paul Muchangi and David Wakhu tee off ten minutes later while Eric Ooko, Riz Charania and amateur Adel Balala tee of at 9am. The last Kenya off the tee is Simon Ngige off hole one at 9.10 am.

Muthaiga Golf Club's elite amateur golfer Mutahi Kibugu who landed a slot as one of the six amateurs to play at this year's Open and Savannah Classic by virtue of being the top placed golfer in the Junior Golf Foundation's order of merit has pulled out of the competition. 

It is reported that Kibugu's caddie tested positive for Covid-19 forcing the golfer to drop out of the competition.