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Kenya Open

Summary

The Kenya Open, currently titled as the Magical Kenya Open for sponsorship reasons, is a professional golf tournament in Kenya founded in 1967.[1]

Magical Kenya Open
Tournament information
LocationNairobi, Kenya
Established1967
Course(s)Muthaiga Golf Club
Par71
Length7,228 yards (6,609 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
Challenge Tour
Safari Circuit
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$2,500,000
Month playedFebruary
Tournament record score
Aggregate263 Justin Harding (2021)
To par−21 as above
Current champion
Netherlands Darius van Driel
Location map
Muthaiga GC is located in Kenya
Muthaiga GC
Muthaiga GC
Location in Kenya

History edit

The Kenya Open was an associate event on the Far East Circuit in 1967 and 1968,[2][3] 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.[4] 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.

In 2019, the tournament became a European Tour event and was played in mid-March during the same week as The Players Championship on the PGA Tour.[5]

The tournament has always been held near Nairobi, either at Muthaiga Golf Club (1967, 1969–2002, 2009–2012, 2017–2018, 2022–2023) or at Karen Country Club (1968, 2004–2008, 2013–2016, 2019, 2021).

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 Maurice Bembridge, who recorded three victories between 1968 and 1979.

Winners edit

Year Tour[a] Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Venue Ref.
Magical Kenya Open
2024 EUR   Darius van Driel 270 −14 2 strokes   Joe Dean
  Nacho Elvira		 Muthaiga [6]
2023 EUR   Jorge Campillo 266 −18 2 strokes   Masahiro Kawamura Muthaiga [7]
2022 EUR   Wu Ashun 268 −16 4 strokes   Aaron Cockerill
  Thriston Lawrence
  Hurly Long		 Muthaiga [8]
2021 EUR   Justin Harding 263 −21 2 strokes   Kurt Kitayama Karen [9]
2020 EUR Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [10]
2019 EUR   Guido Migliozzi 268 −16 1 stroke   Adri Arnaus
  Louis de Jager
  Justin Harding		 Karen [11]
Barclays Kenya Open
2018 CHA   Lorenzo Gagli 273 −11 Playoff   Jens Fahrbring Muthaiga [12]
2017 CHA   Aaron Rai 267 −17 3 strokes   Adrien Saddier Muthaiga [13]
2016 CHA   Sebastian Söderberg 270 −18 3 strokes   Romain Langasque Karen [14]
2015 CHA   Haydn Porteous 271 −17 Playoff   Brandon Stone Karen [15]
2014 CHA   Jake Roos 278 −10 1 stroke   Adrien Bernadet
  Lasse Jensen
  Pedro Oriol		 Karen [16]
2013 CHA   Jordi García Pinto 272 −12 1 stroke   Tim Sluiter Karen [17]
2012 CHA   Seve Benson 274 −10 Playoff   Lasse Jensen Muthaiga [18]
2011 CHA   Michiel Bothma 270 −14 2 strokes   Tyrone Ferreira Muthaiga [19]
Kenya Open
2010 CHA   Robert Dinwiddie 272 −12 3 strokes   Julio Zapata Muthaiga [20]
Tusker Kenya Open
2009 CHA   Gary Boyd 271 −13 4 strokes   Andrew Butterfield
  Philip Golding		 Muthaiga [21]
2008 CHA   Iain Pyman 272 −12 3 strokes   Thomas Feyrsinger Karen [22]
2007 CHA   Edoardo Molinari 274 −6 1 stroke   James Kamte Karen [23]
2006 CHA   Johan Axgren 270 −10 4 strokes   James Hepworth
  Gary Lockerbie		 Karen [24]
2005 CHA   Daniel Vancsik 272 −8 3 strokes   Michael Kirk Karen [25]
Kenya Open
2004 CHA   Marc Cayeux 270 −10 Playoff   Leif Westerberg Karen [26]
2003: No tournament
Sameer Kenya Open
2002 CHA   Lee S. James 265 −19 3 strokes   Titch Moore Muthaiga [27]
Tusker Kenya Open
2001 CHA   Ashley Roestoff 271 −13 Playoff   Andrew Sherborne Muthaiga [28]
2000 CHA   Trevor Immelman 270 −14 4 strokes   Henrik Stenson Muthaiga [29]
1999 CHA   Maarten Lafeber 265 −19 3 strokes   Erik Andersson Muthaiga [30]
1998 CHA   Ricardo González 272 −12 Playoff   Jacob Okello Muthaiga
Lonrho Kenya Open
1997 CHA   Jorge Berendt 268 −16 4 strokes   Sammy Daniels Muthaiga
Kenya Open
1996 CHA   Mike Miller 272 −12 Playoff   Phil Harrison
  Robert Lee		 Muthaiga
1995 CHA   James Lee 265 −19 5 strokes   Thomas Bjørn
  Chris Williams		 Muthaiga
1994   Paul Carman 276 −8 Playoff   Glenn Ralph Muthaiga
1993 CHA   Craig Maltman 276 −8 Playoff   Peter Harrison
  Daniel Westermark		 Muthaiga [31]
Standard Chartered Kenya Open
1992 CHA   André Bossert 272 −12 1 stroke   Craig Maltman Muthaiga [32]
1991 CHA   Jeremy Robinson 269 −15 5 strokes   Paul Affleck
  Philip Golding
  Sandy Stephen		 Muthaiga
555 Kenya Open
1990 SAF   Christy O'Connor Jnr 271 −13 2 strokes   Chris Platts Muthaiga [33]
1989 SAF   David Jones 271 −13 3 strokes   Mark Mouland Muthaiga [34]
1988 SAF   Chris Platts 271 −13 1 stroke   Mark Mouland Muthaiga [35]
1987 SAF   Carl Mason 275 −9 Playoff   Gordon J. Brand
  Roger Chapman
  Martin Poxon		 Muthaiga [36]
1986 SAF   Ian Woosnam 273 −11 Playoff   Bill Longmuir Muthaiga [37]
1985 SAF   Garry Harvey 278 −6 1 stroke   Brian Waites Muthaiga [38]
1984 SAF   José María Cañizares 277 −7 Playoff   David J. Russell Muthaiga [39]
Benson & Hedges Kenya Open
1983 SAF   Ken Brown 274 −10 1 stroke   Jeff Hall Muthaiga [40]
1982 SAF   Eamonn Darcy 274 −10 1 stroke   David Jagger Muthaiga [41]
1981 SAF   Brian Barnes 274 −10 1 stroke   Bernard Gallacher
  Sandy Lyle		 Muthaiga [42]
1980 SAF   Brian Waites 271 −13 1 stroke   Bill Longmuir Muthaiga [43][44]
1979 SAF   Maurice Bembridge (3) 271 −13 Playoff   Bernard Gallacher Muthaiga [45]
Kenya Open
1978 SAF   Seve Ballesteros 274 −10 1 stroke   Bernard Gallacher Muthaiga [46]
1977 SAF   Liam Higgins 283 −1 1 stroke   Gary Smith
  Bob Wynn		 Muthaiga [47]
1976: No tournament due to economic problems [1]
1975   Gary Smith 276 −12 Playoff   Jack Newton Muthaiga [48]
1974   David Jagger 274 −14 1 stroke   Malcolm Gregson Muthaiga [49]
1973   Jan Dorrestein (2) 276 −12 1 stroke   David Jagger Muthaiga [50]
1972   David Llewellyn 279 −9 2 strokes   Peter Tupling Muthaiga [51]
1971   Ernie Jones 283 −5 Playoff   Russell Meek Muthaiga [52]
1970   Jan Dorrestein 273 −15 14 strokes   Malcolm Gregson
  Ronnie Shade
  Bob Tuohy		 Muthaiga [53]
1969   Maurice Bembridge (2) 279 −9 5 strokes   Bernard Gallacher
  Simon Hobday (a)		 Muthaiga [54]
1968 AGC[b]   Maurice Bembridge 289 +1 2 strokes   Terry Westbrook Karen [55]
1967 FEC[b]   Guy Wolstenholme 279 −9 4 strokes   Peter Thomson Muthaiga [56][57]

Notes edit

  1. ^ AGC/FEC − Asia Golf Circuit/Far East Circuit. CHA − Challenge Tour; EUR − European Tour; SAF − Safari Circuit.
  2. ^ a b In 1967 and 1968 the event was sanctioned by the Asia Golf Circuit, however it was an unofficial money event; therefore the win is considered unofficial on that tour.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Quick, Tina; Quick, Jonathan; Burdick, Robert (1993). Rhinos in the Rough:A Golfers Guide to Kenya. Kenway Publications. ISBN 9966464662.
  2. ^ "Seven events in F-E circuit". The Straits Times. Singapore. Reuter. 10 April 1967. p. 17. Retrieved 12 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Walubita, Moses Sayela (1990). Zambia Sporting Score. Multimedia Publications. p. 166. ISBN 9982300393 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "European Tour Announces Expansive Global Schedule for 2019". European Tour. 29 October 2018.
  6. ^ "DP World Tour: Darius van Driel claims maiden title with two-shot victory at Magical Kenya Open". Sky Sports. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  7. ^ "DP World Tour: Jorge Campillo completes impressive two-shot victory at Magical Kenya Open". Sky Sports. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  8. ^ "DP World Tour: Ashun Wu cruises to victory at Magical Kenya Open after Ewen Ferguson blows lead". Sky Sports. 6 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Flawless Harding takes title in Kenya". European Tour. 21 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Kenya: Rescheduled Magical Kenya Open Now Cancelled". ESPN. Associated Press. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Migliozzi wins Kenya Open for first European Tour title". Golf Channel. Associated Press. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Gagli triumphs in Kenya epic". European Tour. 25 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Tears and cheers as Rai wins in Kenya". European Tour. 26 March 2017.
  14. ^ "Soderberg reigns supreme to become Kenyan king". European Tour. 20 March 2016.
  15. ^ Bishumba, Richard (13 April 2015). "South African Porteous wins Kenya Open". The New Times. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Roos let loose to claim Kenyan title". European Tour. 9 March 2014.
  17. ^ "Garcia Pinto claims Kenyan title". European Tour. 17 February 2013.
  18. ^ "Benson wins play-off for Kenyan victory". European Tour. 1 April 2012.
  19. ^ "Bothma crowned the king of Kenya". European Tour. 3 April 2011.
  20. ^ "Hot putter paves the way for Dinwiddie's success". European Tour. 28 March 2010.
  21. ^ "Gary is Boyd by Tusker Kenya Open success". European Tour. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Hot Pyman wins the Tusker Kenya Open". European Tour. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  23. ^ "Molinari Stages Remarkable Recovery to win in Kenya". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Axgren Moves to Number One with Victory at the Tusker Kenya Open". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  25. ^ "Vancsik Charges through to Tusker Kenya Open Title". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Cayeux Continues his Comeback in Style at the Kenya Open". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  27. ^ "James bridges six year gap with victory in Kenya". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  28. ^ "Roestoff pips Sherborne in Kenya playoff". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  29. ^ "Immelman is king in Kenya". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  30. ^ "Lafeber secures maiden title in Nairobi". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  31. ^ "Craig Maltman". The Daily Telegraph. 8 February 1993. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Scotland's Craig Maltman". The Daily Telegraph. 27 January 1992. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Golf". The Glasgow Herald. 29 January 1990. p. 21.
  34. ^ "Jones in his prime - after 20 years". The Glasgow Herald. 13 February 1989. p. 17.
  35. ^ "Chris Platts". The Glasgow Herald. 15 February 1988. p. 12.
  36. ^ "Carl Mason". The Glasgow Herald. 2 March 1987. p. 11.
  37. ^ "Longmuir is pipped by Woosnam". The Glasgow Herald. 10 March 1986. p. 9.
  38. ^ "Kenya victory regains Harvey his tour card". The Glasgow Herald. 11 March 1985. p. 19.
  39. ^ "£3200 cost of Russell lapses". The Glasgow Herald. 12 March 1984. p. 21.
  40. ^ "Surprise win for Brown". The Glasgow Herald. 14 March 1983. p. 18.
  41. ^ "Ireland's Eamonn Darcy". The Glasgow Herald. 15 March 1982. p. 15.
  42. ^ "Scots trio finish top in Kenya". The Glasgow Herald. 16 March 1981. p. 19.
  43. ^ "Plaster puts out Lyle". The Guardian. 17 March 1980. p. 23.
  44. ^ "Golf". The Guardian. 17 March 1980. p. 25.
  45. ^ "Miss from three feet costs Bernie title". The Glasgow Herald. 19 March 1979. p. 20.
  46. ^ "Gallacher loses by one shot". The Glasgow Herald. 11 March 1978. p. 31.
  47. ^ "Torrance (78) crashes". The Glasgow Herald. 14 March 1977. p. 16.
  48. ^ "Gary Smith". The Glasgow Herald. 3 March 1975. p. 16.
  49. ^ "Jagger wins from Gregson". The Glasgow Herald. 5 March 1974. p. 4.
  50. ^ "Dorrestein 12 under par". The Glasgow Herald. 12 March 1973. p. 4.
  51. ^ "Shade third after a 7". The Glasgow Herald. 10 April 1972. p. 5.
  52. ^ "Nairobi". The Times. 19 April 1971. p. 7.
  53. ^ "Scotland's Ronnie Shade". The Evening Times. 6 April 1970. p. 13.
  54. ^ "Bembridge keeps Kenya Open golf title". The Canberra Times. Vol. 43, no. 12286. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 April 1969. p. 23. Retrieved 22 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  55. ^ "Kenya Open". The Age. 23 April 1968. p. 24.
  56. ^ "Wolstenholme wins golf". The Age. 25 April 1967. p. 24.
  57. ^ "G. B. Wolstenholme". The Glasgow Herald. 24 April 1967. p. 6.

External links edit

  • Coverage on the European Tour's official site
  • Coverage on the Challenge Tour's official site
  • Kenya Golf Union home page at the Wayback Machine (archived 24 November 2009)

1°20′28″S 36°42′55″E / 1.3412°S 36.7152°E / -1.3412; 36.7152

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