Kenya Open

The Kenya Open, titled as the Magical Kenya Open for sponsorship reasons, is a professional golf tournament in Kenya founded in 1967.[1] In 2019, the Kenya Open became a European Tour event and was played in mid-March during the same week as the Players Championship on the PGA Tour.[2]

Magical Kenya Open
Tournament information
LocationNairobi, Kenya
Established1967
Course(s)Karen Country Club
Par71
Length6,922 yards (6,329 m)
Tour(s)Safari Circuit (1977–1990)
Challenge Tour (1991–1993, 1995–2018)
European Tour (2019)
FormatStroke play
Prize fund€1,100,000
Month playedMarch
Tournament record score
Aggregate265 James Lee (1995)
265 Maarten Lafeber (1999)
265 Lee S. James (2002)
To par−19 as above
Current champion
Guido Migliozzi
Location Map
Karen Country Club
Location in Kenya
Karen Country Club
Karen Country Club (Nairobi)

The Kenya Open was an associate event on the Far East Circuit in 1967 and 1968,[3][4] after which it became a cornerstone of the emerging Safari Circuit – a collection of tournaments initially in Kenya and Zambia, and then later in Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe.[5] The European Tour, who had taken over running of the Safari Tour in the late 1970s, began to expand globally through the 1980s and those events formally became part of the second tier Challenge Tour in 1991. With the exception of the 1994 event, the Kenya Open remained on the Challenge Tour schedule until 2019 when it was elevated to the elite European Tour schedule.

The Kenya Open has always been held near Nairobi, at Muthaiga Golf Club (1967, 1969–2002, 2009–2012, 2017–2018) and at Karen Country Club (1968, 2004–2008, 2013–2016, 2019).

The title has been won by some of Europe's Ryder Cup golfers, including Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, Ken Brown, Edoardo Molinari and Christy O'Connor Jnr, as well as future Masters champion Trevor Immelman. The most successful player is England's Maurice Bembridge, who recorded three victories between 1968 and 1979.

Winners
YearTour[lower-alpha 1]WinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upVenueRef.
Magical Kenya Open
2020EURCancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[6]
2019EUR Guido Migliozzi268−161 stroke Adri Arnaus
Louis de Jager
Justin Harding		Karen[7]
Barclays Kenya Open
2018CHA Lorenzo Gagli273−11Playoff Jens FahrbringMuthaiga[8]
2017CHA Aaron Rai267−173 strokes Adrien SaddierMuthaiga[9]
2016CHA Sebastian Söderberg270−183 strokes Romain LangasqueKaren[10]
2015CHA Haydn Porteous271−17Playoff Brandon StoneKaren
2014CHA Jake Roos278−101 stroke Adrien Bernadet
Lasse Jensen
Pedro Oriol		Karen[11]
2013CHA Jordi García Pinto272−121 stroke Tim SluiterKaren[12]
2012CHA Seve Benson274−10Playoff Lasse JensenMuthaiga[13]
2011CHA Michiel Bothma270−142 strokes Tyrone FerreiraMuthaiga[14]
Kenya Open
2010CHA Robert Dinwiddie272−123 strokes Julio ZapataMuthaiga[15]
Tusker Kenya Open
2009CHA Gary Boyd271−134 strokes Andrew Butterfield
Philip Golding		Muthaiga[16]
2008CHA Iain Pyman272−123 strokes Thomas FeyrsingerKaren[17]
2007CHA Edoardo Molinari274−61 stroke James KamteKaren[18]
2006CHA Johan Axgren270−104 strokes James Hepworth
Gary Lockerbie		Karen[19]
2005CHA Daniel Vancsik272−83 strokes Michael KirkKaren[20]
Kenya Open
2004CHA Marc Cayeux270−10Playoff Leif WesterbergKaren[21]
2003No tournament
Sameer Kenya Open
2002CHA Lee S. James265−193 strokes Titch MooreMuthaiga[22]
Tusker Kenya Open
2001CHA Ashley Roestoff271−13Playoff Andrew SherborneMuthaiga[23]
2000CHA Trevor Immelman270−144 strokes Henrik StensonMuthaiga[24]
1999CHA Maarten Lafeber265−193 strokes Erik AnderssonMuthaiga[25]
1998CHA Ricardo González272−12Playoff Jacob OkelloMuthaiga
Lonrho Kenya Open
1997CHA Jorge Berendt268−164 strokes Sammy DanielsMuthaiga
Kenya Open
1996CHA Mike Miller272−12Playoff Phil Harrison
Robert Lee		Muthaiga
1995CHA James Lee265−195 strokes Thomas Bjørn
Chris Williams		Muthaiga
1994 Paul Carman276−8Playoff Glenn RalphMuthaiga
1993CHA Craig Maltman276−8Playoff Peter Harrison
Daniel Westermark		Muthaiga
Standard Chartered Kenya Open
1992CHA André Bossert272−121 stroke Craig MaltmanMuthaiga
1991CHA Jeremy Robinson269−155 strokes Paul Affleck
Philip Golding
Sandy Stephen		Muthaiga
555 Kenya Open
1990SAF Christy O'Connor Jnr271−132 strokes Chris PlattsMuthaiga[26]
1989SAF David Jones271−133 strokes Mark MoulandMuthaiga[27]
1988SAF Chris Platts271−131 stroke Mark MoulandMuthaiga[28]
1987SAF Carl Mason275−9Playoff Gordon J. Brand
Roger Chapman
Martin Poxon		Muthaiga[29]
1986SAF Ian Woosnam273−11Playoff Bill LongmuirMuthaiga[30]
1985SAF Garry Harvey278−61 stroke Brian WaitesMuthaiga[31]
1984SAF José María Cañizares277−7Playoff David J. RussellMuthaiga[32]
Benson & Hedges Kenya Open
1983SAF Ken Brown274−101 stroke Jeff HallMuthaiga[33]
1982SAF Eamonn Darcy274−101 stroke David JaggerMuthaiga[34]
1981SAF Brian Barnes274−101 stroke Bernard Gallacher
Sandy Lyle		Muthaiga[35]
1980SAF Brian Waites271−131 stroke Bill LongmuirMuthaiga[36][37]
1979SAF Maurice Bembridge (3)271−13Playoff Bernard GallacherMuthaiga[38]
Kenya Open
1978SAF Seve Ballesteros274−101 stroke Bernard GallacherMuthaiga[39]
1977SAF Liam Higgins283−11 stroke Gary Smith
Bob Wynn		Muthaiga[40]
1976No tournament due to economic problems[1]
1975 Gary Smith276−12Playoff Jack NewtonMuthaiga[41]
1974 David Jagger274−141 stroke Malcolm GregsonMuthaiga[42]
1973 Jan Dorrestein (2)276−121 stroke David JaggerMuthaiga[43]
1972 David Llewellyn279−92 strokes Peter TuplingMuthaiga[44]
1971 Ernie Jones283−5Playoff Russell MeekMuthaiga[45]
1970 Jan Dorrestein273−1514 strokes Malcolm Gregson
Ronnie Shade
Bob Tuohy		Muthaiga[46]
1969 Maurice Bembridge (2)279−95 strokes Bernard GallacherMuthaiga[47]
1968 Maurice Bembridge289+12 strokes Terry WestbrookKaren[48]
1967 Guy Wolstenholme279−94 strokes Peter ThomsonMuthaiga[49][50]
  1. CHA − Challenge Tour; EUR − European Tour; SAF − Safari Circuit.

References
  1. Quick, Tina; Quick, Jonathan; Burdick, Robert (1993). Rhinos in the Rough:A Golfers Guide to Kenya. Kenway Publications. ISBN 9966464662.
  2. "European Tour Announces Expansive Global Schedule for 2019". European Tour. 29 October 2018.
  3. "Seven events in F-E circuit". The Straits Times. Singapore. Reuter. 10 April 1967. p. 17. Retrieved 12 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
  4. Boey, Francis (29 December 1967). "Club members pay for Fisher's trip". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 18. Retrieved 7 July 2020 – via National Library Board.
  5. Walubita, Moses Sayela (1990). Zambia Sporting Score. Multimedia Publications. p. 166. ISBN 9982300393 – via Google Books.
  6. "Kenya: Rescheduled Magical Kenya Open Now Cancelled". ESPN. Associated Press. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  7. "Migliozzi wins Kenya Open for first European Tour title". Golf Channel. Associated Press. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  8. "Gagli triumphs in Kenya epic". European Tour. 25 March 2018.
  9. "Tears and cheers as Rai wins in Kenya". European Tour. 26 March 2017.
  10. "Soderberg reigns supreme to become Kenyan king". European Tour. 20 March 2016.
  11. "Roos let loose to claim Kenyan title". European Tour. 9 March 2014.
  12. "Garcia Pinto claims Kenyan title". European Tour. 17 February 2013.
  13. "Benson wins play-off for Kenyan victory". European Tour. 1 April 2012.
  14. "Bothma crowned the king of Kenya". European Tour. 3 April 2011.
  15. "Hot putter paves the way for Dinwiddie's success". European Tour. 28 March 2010.
  16. "Gary is Boyd by Tusker Kenya Open success". European Tour. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  17. "Hot Pyman wins the Tusker Kenya Open". European Tour. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  18. "Molinari Stages Remarkable Recovery to win in Kenya". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  19. "Axgren Moves to Number One with Victory at the Tusker Kenya Open". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  20. "Vancsik Charges through to Tusker Kenya Open Title". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  21. "Cayeux Continues his Comeback in Style at the Kenya Open". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  22. "James bridges six year gap with victory in Kenya". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  23. "Roestoff pips Sherborne in Kenya playoff". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  24. "Immelman is king in Kenya". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  25. "Lafeber secures maiden title in Nairobi". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  26. "Golf". The Glasgow Herald. 29 January 1990. p. 21.
  27. "Jones in his prime - after 20 years". The Glasgow Herald. 13 February 1989. p. 17.
  28. "Chris Platts". The Glasgow Herald. 15 February 1988. p. 12.
  29. "Carl Mason". The Glasgow Herald. 2 March 1987. p. 11.
  30. "Longmuir is pipped by Woosnam". The Glasgow Herald. 10 March 1986. p. 9.
  31. "Kenya victory regains Harvey his tour card". The Glasgow Herald. 11 March 1985. p. 19.
  32. "£3200 cost of Russell lapses". The Glasgow Herald. 12 March 1984. p. 21.
  33. "Surprise win for Brown". The Glasgow Herald. 14 March 1983. p. 18.
  34. "Ireland's Eamonn Darcy". The Glasgow Herald. 15 March 1982. p. 15.
  35. "Scots trio finish top in Kenya". The Glasgow Herald. 16 March 1981. p. 19.
  36. "Plaster puts out Lyle". The Guardian. 17 March 1980. p. 23.
  37. "Golf". The Guardian. 17 March 1980. p. 25.
  38. "Miss from three feet costs Bernie title". The Glasgow Herald. 19 March 1979. p. 20.
  39. "Gallacher loses by one shot". The Glasgow Herald. 11 March 1978. p. 31.
  40. "Torrance (78) crashes". The Glasgow Herald. 14 March 1977. p. 16.
  41. "Gary Smith". The Glasgow Herald. 3 March 1975. p. 16.
  42. "Jagger wins from Gregson". The Glasgow Herald. 5 March 1974. p. 4.
  43. "Dorrestein 12 under par". The Glasgow Herald. 12 March 1973. p. 4.
  44. "Shade third after a 7". The Glasgow Herald. 10 April 1972. p. 5.
  45. "Nairobi". The Times. 19 April 1971. p. 7.
  46. "Scotland's Ronnie Shade". The Evening Times. 6 April 1970. p. 13.
  47. "Gallacher second to Bembridge". The Glasgow Herald. 14 April 1968. p. 5.
  48. "Kenya Open". The Age. 23 April 1968. p. 24.
  49. "Wolstenholme wins golf". The Age. 25 April 1967. p. 24.
  50. "G. B. Wolstenholme". The Glasgow Herald. 24 April 1967. p. 6.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.