NAIROBI, Kenya, February 18- Long-hitting rising junior sensation, Daniel Nduva, 18, is among six local amateur golfers cleared to contest the European Challenge Tour Kenya Open that runs from March 6 to 9 at Nairobi’s Karen Golf and Country Club.
Nduva, who topped the junior ranks last season, will be joined in the amateur line-up announced by Kenya Golf Union (KGU) on Tuesday by fellow debutants, John Karichu of Limuru Golf Club, the reigning Golfer of the Year (Goty), Robinson Owiti (Vet Lab) and Justus Mboya (Great Rift Valley).
Karichu also scooped the Kenya Matchplay Championships title last year whilst Owiti and Mboya trailed him in third and fourth places in the Goty rankings.
Nelson Simwa (Vet Lab) and Golf Park’s Tony Omuli who have featured at the Kenya Open in the past, complete the squad following their Kenya Matchplay Championships victory and second placing in Goty in that order.
“Kenya has its own professionals who will attempt to make their mark. We are looking beyond as they are staking six of our best amateurs and giving them what players only dream about, a place in at Kenya Open,” Crown Paint Chief Marketing Officer, John Hadley said while rolling out their sponsorship package for the players.
The amateurs have already started training in Karen and besides hiring Robinson Owiti as their professional trainer; the firm will also meet costs for their caddy fee, golf shoes, t-shirts, golf bags, towels, and gloves among other equipment.
“The players were selected as per our policy on qualifications where the winner of strokeplay and matchplay championships as well as the Golfer of the Year gets an automatic slot.
“The others were picked as per Goty Standings and recently, the Union amended the policy to include the best junior according to the Order of Merit,” KGU chairman, Okwara outlined the selection criteria.
The six amateurs are among the 40 local golfers who will tee off the event that will feature 116 foreign entries.
