Jeff Kubwa of Professional Golfers of Kenya during the sponsorship announcement and the official launch of the Magical Kenya Open qualifiers at Windsor Golf and Country Club, on Friday 24th January 2025. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) are set to hold their Magical Kenya Open qualifiers at the end of this month.
The players will engage in two cutthroat championships in Muthaiga (January 27-28) and Sigona (January 30-31).
The 72 hole events will see eight pros punch tickets to this year’s Magical Kenya Open (MKO) slated for February 20-23 at the championship course Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi.
” We are happy to support the qualifiers to a tune of Sh1.1 Million. We also intend to walk the talk with the golfers all throughout the journey, from the qualifiers to the MKO championship,” 9ubet Country Manager Meru Wairegi said during the qualifiers launch on Friday in Nairobi.
Hopeful to punch a ticket to this year’s MKO from the qualifiers is
Kiambu Golf Club player Simon Ngige who has been upping his training at the pestine Windsor Golf and Country Club in Nairobi.
The last time Ngige booked a berth at the MKO was in 2019. He missed the global golf showpiece last season due to injuries.
“I have done a lot of work at the range at Windsor, my body is light, I think I’m now ready to hit the fairways .
“And in case I qualify, I will come back here at Windsor to continue with my practices and preparations ahead of the Open,” Ngige told Standard Sports.
Golf Park’s David Wakhu, who had a fairy tale run in the Open and in the Savannah Classic in 2021 at the Karen Golf and Country Club, is dreaming of a major comeback after being out in the cold in the last two years.
Wakhu has been out of the game due to a couple of injuries, picked in and out of the pitch.
CJ Wangai (third left) Captain of Professional Golfers of Kenya receive a dummy cheque of Sh1.1M from Meru Wairegi (third right) 9UBET Country Manager with other players during the sponsorship announcement and the official launch of the Magical Kenya Open qualifiers at Windsor Golf and Country Club, on Friday 24th January 2025. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
“I have really missed playing golf and more so the Kenya Open. This year, I’m very much ready for the sport. My prayer is that I make it through the qualifiers phase so I can come back to the limelight strongly to inspire the upcoming generations,” Wakhu stated.
“I’m trying my level best to pick up the pieces. I’m hopeful this year will be kind to me. I’m already visiting the physiotherapist, attending the gym sessions, doing the stretches and these have given me the confidence and the composure needed to perform better in the coming championships,”he added.
PGK captain C.J Wangai said they will strive to give pro golfers more tournaments to take part in this year after a torrid period last season after their annual qualifying tournament, the Safari Tour Series, went under.
So far, two Kenya amateurs have qualified for the MKO and they are Michael Karanga, (Kiambu) who successfully defended his Kenya Amateur Golf Championship trophy last year and William Odek (Nyali) who bagged the Kenya Strokeplay championship last season.
Also Kenya Matchplay championship winner
Michael Alunga of Uganda has reserved a seat in the Kenya Open train.
