Magical Open: Kenya to witness world’s best battle in Muthaiga

GOLF Magical Open: Kenya to witness world’s best battle in Muthaiga

Kiplagat Sang • 16:30 - 04.03.2023

This year’s edition boasts an estimated price purse of Ksh254 million.

The Magical Kenya Open has attracted experienced and renowned names from the DP World Tour series for the 2023 edition.

In the competition, whose kitty prize is $2 million (Ksh254 million), Kenya will be represented by eight pros and six amateurs.

Dismas Indiza - who has played in the Open for the last 23 years – leads the competitors on the pros’ list.

Muthaiga’s Greg Snow and Mutahi Kibugu, Thika Sports Club’s Simon Ngige, former Uganda Open champion Justus Madoya, long-hitter Daniel Nduva of Nyali, Mike Kisia of Vet Lab, and Samuel Njoroge of Kenya Railway Golf Club are the others on the pros’ list.

Njoroge Kibugu, Daniel Kiragu, Jay Sandhu, Dennis Maara, Adel Balala, and John Lejirmah are the six amateurs that will carry the Kenyan flag.

Just like the professionals, the amateurs will have to make the cut in the second round to proceed to the final two rounds.

China’s Ashun Wu - the defending champion from 2022 – is on the list that was released by World Tour.

Last year, Wu produced an impressive final-round six under par for a total of 16 under and claimed a surprise four-shot victory over South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, Canada's Aaron Cockerill, and German pro Hurley Long.

Wu, Rafa Cabrero Bello of Spain, Germany’s Marcel Stem, and China’s Li Hantong are in ‘Category Three’. This category is made up of players who won in 2020, up and including 2021, and who feature in the DP World Tour rankings.

Spaniard Adrian Otaegui, Richie Ramsay from Scotland, and Justin Harding - the winner from South Africa in 2021 -  are among the foreign golfers that will compete in this year’s edition.

South Africa’s Shaun Norris is expected to register on Monday and is placed in ‘Category Four’ which is compiled from the DP World Tour rankings from 2022.