The stage is set for the sixth leg of the Sunshine Development Tour - East Africa Swing Johnnie Walker Classic at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s par 72 course starting on Monday.
This follows Saturday’s Pro-Am tournament, the first one since the EA Swing Tour was launched in April at the Great Rift Golf Resort in Naivasha.
This is courtesy of Johnnie Walker who are also supporting the sixth leg that has a prize purse of Sh2 million with the winner taking home Sh400,000.
The event has attracted 82 top golfers from across Africa who will be fighting for world ranking points.
The Sunshine Development Tour is the only event in East Africa offering world raking points, and a chance for the leading players to join the prestigious South Africa-based Sunshine Tour.
The South African tournament is a co-sanctioning tour with many others in the world including the DP World Tour.
Focus at Royal over the next three days will obviously be on sensational Rwandan pro Celestin Nsanzuwera who is leading in the East Africa Swing Order of Merit with 789 points, after clinching the fourth leg at the Diamonds Leisure Golf Resort in Diani, and the recent SportsBiz Africa Championship at his home course in Kigali.
The field has senior pro Dismas Indiza, who beat Kenya’s leading amateur John Lejirmah in a sudden death play-off to win the second leg at Ruiru Sports Club.
Also in the line-up is the winner of the first and third legs at Thika Greens and Nyali Golf and Country Club, Njoroge Kibugu from Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club.
Eyes will also be on Muthaiga’s Greg Snow, who despite dominating in the PGK Equator Tour, is yet to lay his hands on any title in the the Sunshine Development Tour series.
Watch out for the challenge of Visitor Mapwanya from Zimbabwe, Adam Breen and former Kenya Open winner Haydn Porteous from South Africa, and Uganda’s Phillip Kasozi,
From the ladies’ entry, besides Kenya’s only female professional Naomi Wafula of Vipingo Ridge, there is Tanzania’s Andel Eaton, and local amateurs, Margaret Njoki, from Golf Park, home player Ashley Awuor, and Karen’s Kellie Gachaga.
Saturday’s Pro-Am involved 186 players -- 34 professionals and 152 amateurs. Lady golfer Rose Wanjiru put up a composed and consistent performance to emerge the overall winner with 42 points.
Fred Kithinzi took the men’s top prize with 40 points, finishing ahead of Lawrence Njue on 38 points. Betty Maina was crowned the lady winner with 40 points, with Jinnel Mwangi second on 39 points.
The long-hitting Fred Mugambi won the men’s longest drive, while professional golfer Naomi Wafula claimed the ladies’ longest drive honours.
In the team category, the combination of Ugandan Pro Kibirige Marvin, home amateur Kevin Juma, Patrick Musimba, and Felix Midikira took top honours with an impressive 84 points, edging out Pro Philip Kasozi’s team of Philemon Kipkemoi, Fred Mugambi, and Lesley Mugambi, who posted 81 points.
Finishing third with the same total were pro Nsanzuwera, Michael Mutiga, Victor Kyalo, and Charles Gacheru, whose steady teamwork and consistency rounded off the podium places.
