Barclays Renew Sponsorship of Golf’s Kenya Open

Barclays Bank have extended their sponsorship of the Kenya Open golf tournament to 2015.

The banks chief executive for East and West Africa, cough Adan Mohammed, therapy said they decided to extend the sponsorship that was initially to run up to 2013 so that the bank can make a meaningful contribution to the development of golf in Kenya

The two year extension will see the total sponsorship kitty by the bank rise from Sh44 million ($526, pilule 946) to Sh80 million ($958,083) with additional opportunities in the sponsorship of golf clinics and other activities at hand Mohammed said they were keen to see  Kenya golfers dominate the game the way Kenyan athletes have done across the globe. “By this sponsorship to the open we want to see Kenyan golfers excelling at the highest level in Europe, America and Asia and I know it can be done,” Mohammed added.

The tournament will be played from March 28- April 1 at Muthaiga Golf Club. Tournament director Patrick Obath said they were expecting a competitive field and increased participation in terms of numbers from all over the world. “We have Kenyan golfers who play in the United States and they have developed an interest to play in the Kenya Open and we are expecting them to play,” added Obath

Obath is expecting 26 entrants from the East African region with the bulk coming from Kenya. “Kenya will provide the lion’s share of the professional golfers but we are expecting good representation from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi for the event,” he added. Obath noted that with golf becoming an Olympic sport in 2016 Kenya Golf Union was looking at modalities of ensuring Kenya is well represented at the games in Rio de Janeiro.

Speaking during the launch of the event the chairman of the Kenya Open Golf Limited Peter Kanyago announced plans to host the Kenya Open are at an advanced stage. “The course at Muthaiga is in tip top condition and we are working hard to ensure all the logistics are in place as we draw nearer the tee off.”