Kenya: All Set for Pro-Am

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Samson Ateka

30 March 2011

Six amateurs representing Kenya at this year’s Barclays Kenya Open reckon that the event will serve as a learning experience for future events.

Top amateur Collins Omondi, who finished 7th at the recent Jamii Telecom PGK Masters said the six have what it takes to take the game to the next level once they join paid ranks. Omondi will be turning pro next year and has lofty ambitions.

“I have the feeling that the crop of amateurs we have today will play for big money in future,” he said. Others are to tee-off at the tournament are Nelson Mudanyi, David Opati, Omondi, Nadeem Alibahi, Stef Andersen and Boniface Simwa. Omondi said playing on the home course at Muthaiga would be an added advantage to him. “Playing on the home course definitely comes with a lot of pressure but we will give it our best shot. We went to Argentina for the World Championship last year and I believe we learnt quite a lot,” he added. Meanwhile, as the Pro Am prepares to curtain raise for the Open, the par 71 Muthaiga Golf course has been a beehive of activity since Monday with the scenario serving up great moments ahead of the 43rd edition of the PGA Tour event.

While organisers are racing against time to put the final touches to the event’s preparations, players and caddies are equally busy in light training. Unlike in the previous years, there is a considerably higher number of female caddies. Many of the local and foreign players were yesterday busy on the practice range, trying to perfect their shooting act.

Such was the mood in the run up to the Pro-Am which features professionals and amateurs today. Kenya Open proper tees off tomorrow through to Sunday. This year’s event comes along with significant innovations. Key in the set up, according to tournament director Patrick Obath, is a designated parking area at Kenya Wildlife where spectators will park and use shuttles to the venue. This has been preferred to ease up parking which has been a problem during previous events.

A spectator stand facing the par 3, 13th hole has been designed with entertainment in mind and will accommodate 200 spectators. Hospitality tents have also been erected and branding of the venue looks quite awesome.

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