Newly crowned Safari Tour champion Dismas Indiza believes Kenyans are better prepared for the Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship slated for Muthaiga from March 3-6.
Speaking after the final leg of the 2021/22 Safari Tour Season Four at Muthaiga, the long-hitting Mumias pro said the big field of regional pros in the Tour has not only injected quality to the series but enabled Kenyans to up their game.
"I believe we've done our work. There's no excuse for not being prepared. The one thing we are mastering by the day is to play under pressure on Tour. I wish to thank organizers of Safari Tour for creating an enabling environment for us to play competitive golf," Indiza said.
Indiza will represent Team Kenya alongside Simon Ngige of Thika Sports Club, Eric Ooko (Golf Park0, Muthaiga's Greg Snow, Great Rift's Justus Madoya, Samuel Njoroge (Railways0, David Wakhu (Golf Park), and Sigona pro-Mohit Mediratta.
Robinson Chinhoi of Zimbabwe and Paul Chidale of Malawi are the two players who will represent the region from the Safari Tour.
Chinhoi racked up his fourth win of Safari Tour Season Four at Muthaiga with an impressive 15 over par 269. Daniel Nduva of Nyali Golf and Country Club came second with 11 under par 273 as Indiza finished third on 10 under par 274.
"I will be forever grateful for Safari Tour as it has made me the player I am today. Playing in the DP Tour is such a great feeling and I will be hoping for some good competition," Chinhoi said.
The Kenya team was announced by Magical Kenya Open tournament director Patrick Obath, who lauded the players for the good scores in the last two events.
Obath said more Kenyans may land slots in the event should some of the DP World Tour pros fail to honour their invitations.
"We have identified some players in the Safari Tour who have given a very good account of themselves. So it's a wait-and-see situation. We will look at the list of those invited and I think two or three players might land slots in the event. They might be Kenyans or even regional players," he said.
This year's Magical Kenya Open will count towards the DP World Tour, previously known as European Tour.
A total of 156 players including six Kenyan amateurs will take part in the event organised by Kenya Open Golf Limited. Obath also announced the amateur team which has among others Adel Balala from Mombasa, John Lejirma, and Muthaiga's Taimur Malik.
KENYA OPEN TEAM
Professionals
1. Dismas Indiza
2. Simon Ngige
3. Eric Ooko
4. Greg Snow
5. Jastas Madoya
6. Samuel Njoroge
7. David Wakhu
8. Mohit Mediratta
Amateurs
1. Adel Balala
2. John Lejirma
3. Michael Karanga
4. Dennis Maara
5. Taimur Malik
6. Njoroge Kibugu
Regional Team
1. Robson Chinhoi (Zimbabwe)
2. Paul Chidale (Malawi)
