2018 Kenya Open Championship:
- Tee-off: 22nd March
- Finish: 25th March
*At Muthiaga Golf Club
Reigning Uganda Open Golf amateur champion, Ronald ‘Mayo’ Rugumayo and professional Fred Wanzala are the only Ugandans invited for the 2018 prestigious Kenya Open championship.
As the 50th edition tees off on Thursday, 22nd March 2018, Rugumayo will set the ball flying at 1:40 pm off the tee box alongside Spaniard Borjo Virto and Ross McGowan from England.
Ten minutes later, Wanzala, now a club pro at the state of art Serena Lake Victoria Golf Course in Kigo will tee off with Dutchman Robbie Van West and Nick Cullen (Australian).
The two golfers traveled to Kenya early this week well in time for acclimatization rounds.
Whereas Wanzala, will be making his second return to the Open (after playing at the European Tour Challenger event in Karen last year), this is the maiden event for Rugumayo, a Toro club member who had a phenomenal 2017 on the greens.
Rugumayo, whose main aim is to make the cut is among the six amateurs at the championship.
He said in an interview;
We traveled early and i have already felt the course.
I will be working towards making the cut.
I will turn pro after this event
For starters, no Ugandan player has even made the cut.
Wanzala on the other hand will be among the paid ranks players whose total kitty is 500,000 Euros for the best 60 players making the cut.
Kenya has fielded a maximum number of professionals (19) including the long hitting Dismas Indiza Anyonyi, Riz Charania, Greg Snow, David Wakhu, David Odiambo, Simon Ngige and Stefan Engel Andersen.
his year’s total prize fund for the professionals is 500,000 Euros with the top 60 players who make the cut sharing this kitty.
Englishman Aaron Rai is the defending champion.
Kenya Open (Selected Tee-off times and groups for Ugandans)
1.40pm
- Ronald Rugumayo
- Borjo Virto
- Ross McGowan
1.50pm
- Fred Wanzala
- Robbie Van West
- Nick Cullen