Sports

Twelve events in Golf Tour series planned across East Africa region

Wednesday, August 21st, 2019 00:00 | By
Mumias-based Dismas Indiza tees-off on Day Three of the Safari Tour Golf Series at the Nyali Golf Club in August last year. Photo/PD/PHILIP KAMAKYA

Webster Nyandika

The Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) has released dates for the 2019/2020 Safari Tour Golf Series. The revamped series will now include 12 events across four East African countries; with seven events being held in Kenya, three in Uganda and one each in Rwanda and Tanzania.

Commenting on the 2019/2020 schedule, Patrick Obath, the Safari Tour Tournament Director, said going into East African was part of the request from President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“When we mooted the idea of a professional golf tour in Kenya, we were asked by President Uhuru to include our junior golfers of either gender, our elite amateur golfers and to ensure that we invite and include our brothers and sisters from the East African region.

We have been in discussions with the golf leadership in Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania and we are delighted to announce that the Safari Tour will now be played in those nations,” he said.

In Uganda, the well-established Uganda Open, with a US$50,000 (Sh5 million) prize fund, will now be part of the Safari Tour as will the Entebbe Open and Kitante Open tournaments.

“The Uganda Open and the Rwanda Open will now be part of the Safari Tour and what this simply means is that Pros participating in those events will earn points on the Safari Tour ranking enabling them to qualify for the Magical Kenya Open in a fair and transparent manner.

We are still in discussions with Tanzania on dates and venues for a leg of the Safari Tour there,” Obath added.

The Nyali Golf and Country Club will once more host the first event of the Safari Tour season from the August 24-28.

“Registration for membership of the tour and for entry into the first event at Nyali is open on www.safaritour.golf and we invite all golf professionals across East Africa and across Africa to register and join us.

We are also inviting the top junior and elite amateurs of either gender to register and join us, this tour is keen to promote not only the Professional golfers but also our juniors and top amateurs who aspire to play professional golf soon,” Obath said.

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