Kenya Open
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Tournament information | |
---|---|
Standort | Nairobi, Kenya |
Established | 1967 |
Course(s) | Muthaiga Golf Club |
Par | 71 |
Length | 7,228 yards (6,609 m) |
Tour(s) | European Tour Challenge Tour Safari Circuit |
Format | Stroke play |
Prize fund | US$2,500,000 |
Month played | February |
Tournament record score | |
Aggregate | 263 Justin Harding (2021) |
To par | −21 as above |
Current champion | |
![]() | |
Location map | |
Location in Kenya |
The Kenya Open, currently titled as the Magical Kenya Open for sponsorship reasons, is a professional golf tournament in Kenya founded in 1967.[1]
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 | ![]() |
270 | −14 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | [6] |
2023 | EUR | ![]() |
266 | −18 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [7] |
2022 | EUR | ![]() |
268 | −16 | 4 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | [8] |
2021 | EUR | ![]() |
263 | −21 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Karen | [9] |
2020 | EUR | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | [10] | |||||
2019 | EUR | ![]() |
268 | −16 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Karen | [11] |
Barclays Kenya Open | ||||||||
2018 | CHA | ![]() |
273 | −11 | Playoff | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [12] |
2017 | CHA | ![]() |
267 | −17 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [13] |
2016 | CHA | ![]() |
270 | −18 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
Karen | [14] |
2015 | CHA | ![]() |
271 | −17 | Playoff | ![]() |
Karen | [15] |
2014 | CHA | ![]() |
278 | −10 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Karen | [16] |
2013 | CHA | ![]() |
272 | −12 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Karen | [17] |
2012 | CHA | ![]() |
274 | −10 | Playoff | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [18] |
2011 | CHA | ![]() |
270 | −14 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [19] |
Kenya Open | ||||||||
2010 | CHA | ![]() |
272 | −12 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [20] |
Tusker Kenya Open | ||||||||
2009 | CHA | ![]() |
271 | −13 | 4 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | [21] |
2008 | CHA | ![]() |
272 | −12 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
Karen | [22] |
2007 | CHA | ![]() |
274 | −6 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Karen | [23] |
2006 | CHA | ![]() |
270 | −10 | 4 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
Karen | [24] |
2005 | CHA | ![]() |
272 | −8 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
Karen | [25] |
Kenya Open | ||||||||
2004 | CHA | ![]() |
270 | −10 | Playoff | ![]() |
Karen | [26] |
2003: No tournament | ||||||||
Sameer Kenya Open | ||||||||
2002 | CHA | ![]() |
265 | −19 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [27] |
Tusker Kenya Open | ||||||||
2001 | CHA | ![]() |
271 | −13 | Playoff | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [28] |
2000 | CHA | ![]() |
270 | −14 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [29] |
1999 | CHA | ![]() |
265 | −19 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [30] |
1998 | CHA | ![]() |
272 | −12 | Playoff | ![]() |
Muthaiga | |
Lonrho Kenya Open | ||||||||
1997 | CHA | ![]() |
268 | −16 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | |
Kenya Open | ||||||||
1996 | CHA | ![]() |
272 | −12 | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | |
1995 | CHA | ![]() |
265 | −19 | 5 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | |
1994 | ![]() |
276 | −8 | Playoff | ![]() |
Muthaiga | ||
1993 | CHA | ![]() |
276 | −8 | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | [31] |
Standard Chartered Kenya Open | ||||||||
1992 | CHA | ![]() |
272 | −12 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [32] |
1991 | CHA | ![]() |
269 | −15 | 5 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | |
555 Kenya Open | ||||||||
1990 | SAF | ![]() |
271 | −13 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [33] |
1989 | SAF | ![]() |
271 | −13 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [34] |
1988 | SAF | ![]() |
271 | −13 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [35] |
1987 | SAF | ![]() |
275 | −9 | Playoff | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | [36] |
1986 | SAF | ![]() |
273 | −11 | Playoff | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [37] |
1985 | SAF | ![]() |
278 | −6 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [38] |
1984 | SAF | ![]() |
277 | −7 | Playoff | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [39] |
Benson & Hedges Kenya Open | ||||||||
1983 | SAF | ![]() |
274 | −10 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [40] |
1982 | SAF | ![]() |
274 | −10 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [41] |
1981 | SAF | ![]() |
274 | −10 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | [42] |
1980 | SAF | ![]() |
271 | −13 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [43][44] |
1979 | SAF | ![]() |
271 | −13 | Playoff | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [45] |
Kenya Open | ||||||||
1978 | SAF | ![]() |
274 | −10 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [46] |
1977 | SAF | ![]() |
283 | −1 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | [47] |
1976: No tournament due to economic problems | [1] | |||||||
1975 | ![]() |
276 | −12 | Playoff | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [48] | |
1974 | ![]() |
274 | −14 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [49] | |
1973 | ![]() |
276 | −12 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [50] | |
1972 | ![]() |
279 | −9 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [51] | |
1971 | ![]() |
283 | −5 | Playoff | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [52] | |
1970 | ![]() |
273 | −15 | 14 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | [53] | |
1969 | ![]() |
279 | −9 | 5 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
Muthaiga | [54] | |
1968 | AGC[b] | ![]() |
289 | +1 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Karen | [55] |
1967 | FEC[b] | ![]() |
279 | −9 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
Muthaiga | [56][57] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ AGC/FEC − Asia Golf Circuit/Far East Circuit. CHA − Challenge Tour; EUR − European Tour; SAF − Safari Circuit.
- ^ 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]- ^ a b Quick, Tina; Quick, Jonathan; Burdick, Robert (1993). Rhinos in the Rough:A Golfers Guide to Kenya. Kenway Publications. ISBN 9966464662.
- ^ "Seven events in F-E circuit". The Straits Times. Singapore. Reuter. 10 April 1967. p. 17. Retrieved 12 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Walubita, Moses Sayela (1990). Zambia Sporting Score. Multimedia Publications. p. 166. ISBN 9982300393 – via Google Books.
- ^ "European Tour Announces Expansive Global Schedule for 2019". European Tour. 29 October 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "DP World Tour: Jorge Campillo completes impressive two-shot victory at Magical Kenya Open". Sky Sports. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "DP World Tour: Ashun Wu cruises to victory at Magical Kenya Open after Ewen Ferguson blows lead". Sky Sports. 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Flawless Harding takes title in Kenya". European Tour. 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Kenya: Rescheduled Magical Kenya Open Now Cancelled". ESPN. Associated Press. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Migliozzi wins Kenya Open for first European Tour title". Golf Channel. Associated Press. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Gagli triumphs in Kenya epic". European Tour. 25 March 2018.
- ^ "Tears and cheers as Rai wins in Kenya". European Tour. 26 March 2017.
- ^ "Soderberg reigns supreme to become Kenyan king". European Tour. 20 March 2016.
- ^ Bishumba, Richard (13 April 2015). "South African Porteous wins Kenya Open". The New Times. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Roos let loose to claim Kenyan title". European Tour. 9 March 2014.
- ^ "Garcia Pinto claims Kenyan title". European Tour. 17 February 2013.
- ^ "Benson wins play-off for Kenyan victory". European Tour. 1 April 2012.
- ^ "Bothma crowned the king of Kenya". European Tour. 3 April 2011.
- ^ "Hot putter paves the way for Dinwiddie's success". European Tour. 28 March 2010.
- ^ "Gary is Boyd by Tusker Kenya Open success". European Tour. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- ^ "Hot Pyman wins the Tusker Kenya Open". European Tour. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- ^ "Molinari Stages Remarkable Recovery to win in Kenya". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Axgren Moves to Number One with Victory at the Tusker Kenya Open". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Vancsik Charges through to Tusker Kenya Open Title". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Cayeux Continues his Comeback in Style at the Kenya Open". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "James bridges six year gap with victory in Kenya". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Roestoff pips Sherborne in Kenya playoff". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Immelman is king in Kenya". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Lafeber secures maiden title in Nairobi". European Tour. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Craig Maltman". The Daily Telegraph. 8 February 1993. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Scotland's Craig Maltman". The Daily Telegraph. 27 January 1992. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Golf". The Glasgow Herald. 29 January 1990. p. 21.
- ^ "Jones in his prime - after 20 years". The Glasgow Herald. 13 February 1989. p. 17.
- ^ "Chris Platts". The Glasgow Herald. 15 February 1988. p. 12.
- ^ "Carl Mason". The Glasgow Herald. 2 March 1987. p. 11.
- ^ "Longmuir is pipped by Woosnam". The Glasgow Herald. 10 March 1986. p. 9.
- ^ "Kenya victory regains Harvey his tour card". The Glasgow Herald. 11 March 1985. p. 19.
- ^ "£3200 cost of Russell lapses". The Glasgow Herald. 12 March 1984. p. 21.
- ^ "Surprise win for Brown". The Glasgow Herald. 14 March 1983. p. 18.
- ^ "Ireland's Eamonn Darcy". The Glasgow Herald. 15 March 1982. p. 15.
- ^ "Scots trio finish top in Kenya". The Glasgow Herald. 16 March 1981. p. 19.
- ^ "Plaster puts out Lyle". The Guardian. 17 March 1980. p. 23.
- ^ "Golf". The Guardian. 17 March 1980. p. 25.
- ^ "Miss from three feet costs Bernie title". The Glasgow Herald. 19 March 1979. p. 20.
- ^ "Gallacher loses by one shot". The Glasgow Herald. 11 March 1978. p. 31.
- ^ "Torrance (78) crashes". The Glasgow Herald. 14 March 1977. p. 16.
- ^ "Gary Smith". The Glasgow Herald. 3 March 1975. p. 16.
- ^ "Jagger wins from Gregson". The Glasgow Herald. 5 March 1974. p. 4.
- ^ "Dorrestein 12 under par". The Glasgow Herald. 12 March 1973. p. 4.
- ^ "Shade third after a 7". The Glasgow Herald. 10 April 1972. p. 5.
- ^ "Nairobi". The Times. 19 April 1971. p. 7.
- ^ "Scotland's Ronnie Shade". The Evening Times. 6 April 1970. p. 13.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Kenya Open". The Age. 23 April 1968. p. 24.
- ^ "Wolstenholme wins golf". The Age. 25 April 1967. p. 24.
- ^ "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)