Sandhu, Balala headline Amateur Strokeplay entries

Leading amateur golfers Jay Sandhu of Muthaiga Golf Club, defending champion Adel Balala of Nyali Golf & Country Club, and the Kenya Amateur Matchplay Champion Dennis Maara of Limuru Country Club headline a loaded entry list for this year’s strokeplay championship. 

The 45th edition of the Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship dubbed “Kenyatta Memorial Bowl” is set to be held at Vipingo Ridge from the 20-23 October. 

Also on the list is the reigning Deaflympics bronze medalist Isaac Makokha of Vet Lab Sports Club. The 2020 Matchplay champion will be chasing another title in the Strokeplay competition. 

The tournament has attracted 76 elite amateurs drawn from 18 golf clubs in Kilifi, Nairobi, Kiambu, Mombasa, Uasin-Gishu, Nandi, Nakuru, and Machakos counties. 

Also on the list are golfers from Uganda Golf Club, Dar Es Salaam Gymkhana and Jaeren Golf Club- Norway.

This year’s event, starting on Mashujaa Day has been held in memory of Kenya’s first President, the late Jomo Kenyatta. 

The trophy was first presented in 1978 by Kenya Golf Union (KGU) first African chairman Chris Kahara-1978/79 and Col. M.J. Harbage-KGU chairman 1977/78.

The players will be contesting for Kenya Amateur Golf Championship points, World Amateur Golf Ranking points and the overall prize. 

The KGU chairman Njani Ndiritu announced the introduction of cash prizes for the event in line with the revised regulations by the R&A which allow amateur golfers to win cash prizes to a maximum limit of Kshs 115,000.  

The winner of the event gets an automatic entry to the 2023 Magical Kenya Open subject to meeting the DP World Tour requirements.

Tournament director Philip Ochola confirmed that the plans for the event are all set. He added that there will be a subsidiary tournament on Saturday, 22 October which is open to golfers across the country, including ladies and juniors.