Uganda pro's join hunt for Safari Tour points, cash
Aug 24, 2019
The field also includes entries from Tanzania and Zimbabwe
The first leg of the 2019/20 Safari Tour Golf series tees off this Saturday at the Nyali Golf and Country Club in Mombasa with an impressive field of over 40 professionals from around the region.
Ugandan professional golfers Denis Anguyo, Phillip Kasozi, Becca Mwanja, Brian Toolit and Opio Onito are among a number of established East African golfers that are set to compete in the annual event.
Among other notable names set to battle it out for a share of the KES. 1 Million (Sh35m) total Prize kitty, including defending series champion, Greg Snow, Golf Park's David Wakhu who won in Nyali last year, hard-hitting Dismas Indiza and Windsor Golf Club's Riz Charania.
The field also includes entries from Tanzania and Zimbabwe, including Tanzania's Nuru Mollel, Rajabu Pembe and Abdalla Yusuf alongside double Sunshine Tour champion from Zimbabwe, Charamba Tongoona.
The four-day tournament will tee off with a Pro-Am event which will see the Professional golfers play with amateurs on August 24 at the same venue, before the main competition which will be played from August 25-28. A golf clinic will be held tomorrow at the same venue featuring a section of professional players taking amateur and junior golfers through golf basics.
The Nyali leg will be the first in a series of 12 tournaments that will constitute the 2019/20 Safari Tour, that will see golfers play in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, culminating with the 2020 Magical Kenya Open set to be hosted at the Karen Country Club from March 12-15 2020.
Safari Tour Defending champion Kenya's Greg Snow in action. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
After Nyali, the series will move to the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa from September 10-14 for the Uganda Open, then to the Royal Golf Club Nairobi from October 12-16.
Action will move back to Uganda, this time at the Entebbe Golf Club from October 30-November 2. The series will then head to Rwanda, at the Kigali Golf Club from November 6-9, after which it will make stops at the Great Rift Valley and Muthaiga Golf Clubs before breaking off for Christmas on December 18.
"We are delighted with the level of entries that we have received for this event as it confirms its importance to both our local and regional pros as they work towards getting a slot in next year's Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship.
"We are particularly glad to see entries from Zimbabwe as well as increased number of players from both Uganda and Tanzania. As we move along, we hope to attract more regional professionals as the tour continues," Safari Tour Golf Series Tournament Director, Patrick Obath stated.
Safari Tour Calendar 2019/20
Event 1 Nyali Golf and Country Club August 24-28 2019
Event 2 Uganda Open (Lake Victoria Serena) September 10-14
Event 3 Royal Nairobi Golf Club October 12-16
Event 4 Entebbe Open (Entebbe Club) Oct 30-Nov 2.
Event 5 Rwanda Open (Kigali Golf Club) Nov 6-9.
Event 6 Great Rift Valley Golf Club Nov 23-27.
Event 7 Muthaiga Golf Club December 14-18.
Event 8 Thika Greens Jan 4-8, 2020.
Event 9 Sigona Golf Club January 25-29, 2020.
Event 10 Kitante Open (Uganda Golf Club) February 12-15 2020.
Event 11 Karen Country Club February 22-26 2020
Event 12 Tanzania Open (Kiligolf) TBC
2019 Magical Kenya Open, Karen Country Club, March 12-15 2020.