Image: /FILE
Kenya pro golfer Dismas Indiza believes his current good form is a sign of better things to come at next month’s Magical Kenya Open Championship to be held at Muthaiga Golf Club course.
Amiably referred to as ‘Baba Yao’ in golfing circles, Indiza who won last week’s Safari Tour in Limuru, is excited to have hit form at the right time.
A stunning last round of seven under par 65 on the last day of the Limuru leg and indeed a gross total of 274 left the Mumias-based pro the favourite to win the 2023/24 Safari Tour Season Six.
The event has so far been to Uganda, Vet Lab, Sigona and most recently the par72 Limuru Country Club course.
“I’m playing good golf at the moment and I’m overly excited about it,” said Indiza, who is hoping to return to the Kenya Open for the umpteenth time.
Indiza boasts a wealth of experience and for him, age is nothing but a number as he keeps tormenting youthful Kenyan golfers on the fairways with his crowd-pleasing hitting antics.
Currently, in his 50s, he has won major championships in the region and other big events locally.
“I’m excited with my current game and I think that’s the best thing to happen in the run down to the Kenyan Open,” he said after his second win of the 2023/24 Safari Tour in Limuru.
Indiza currently tops the 2023/24 Safari Tour with 213.0 points ahead of compatriots Samuel Njoroge and Daniel Nduva following his stellar performance in Limuru, where he earned a cash reward of Sh150,000 and 50 points to boot towards the “Road to Magical Kenya Open’’.
With an insatiable hunger for success, Indiza secured a remarkable victory at the 2023 Johnnie Walker Uganda Golf Open— the opening round of this season’s Safari Tour—marking his seventh professional title on Ugandan soil and a triumphant comeback since 2018.
Indiza, known for his powerful drives, concluded the four-day season-opening Ugandan tournament with a stellar performance, carding an impressive 11 under par 277.
His victory was nevertheless hard-fought, with Uganda’s Ronald Mugumya leading for the initial three days before falling short by three shots on the final day.
The 2024 Magical Kenya Open (MKO) will be run as part of the “Global Swing” in the new-look 2024 DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) set up as Muthaiga Golf Club prepares to host global pros from February 22 – 25.
The Tour will feature a minimum of 44 tournaments in 24 countries across five continents, underlining its status as golf’s global Tour, according to Keith Pelley, the DP World Tour’s Chief Executive.
The DP Tour also dubbed ‘Race to Dubai’ features three new and distinct phases – five innovative ‘Global Swings’ from November 2023 to August 2024; a historic ‘Back 9’ from September 2024 to October 2024; and two ‘DP World Tour Play-Offs’ in November 2024.
2023/2024 Order of Merit after Limuru
1. Indiza, Dismas 213.0
2. Njoroge, Samuel 179.5
3. Nduva, Daniel 155.5
4. Snow, Greg 151.3
5. Mapwanya, Visitor (Zim) 125.0
6. Kisia, Mike 124.8
7. Kibugu, Njoroge 119.0
8 Mediratta, Mohit 118.0
9.Kamulindwa, David (Ug)111.0
10. Ainamani, Abraham (Ug)104.5