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)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
Karen CC
Location in Kenya

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
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runners-upRef
Magical Kenya Open
2019Guido Migliozzi ItalyKaren268−161 stroke Adri Arnaus
Louis de Jager
Justin Harding		[6]
Barclays Kenya Open
2018Lorenzo Gagli ItalyMuthaiga273−11Playoff Jens Fahrbring[7]
2017Aaron Rai EnglandMuthaiga267−173 strokes Adrien Saddier[8]
2016Sebastian Söderberg SwedenKaren270−183 strokes Romain Langasque[9]
2015Haydn Porteous South AfricaKaren271−17Playoff Brandon Stone
2014Jake Roos South AfricaKaren278−101 stroke Adrien Bernadet
Lasse Jensen
Pedro Oriol		[10]
2013Jordi García Pinto SpainKaren272−121 stroke Tim Sluiter[11]
2012Seve Benson EnglandMuthaiga274−10Playoff Lasse Jensen[12]
2011Michiel Bothma South AfricaMuthaiga270−142 strokes Tyrone Ferreira[13]
Kenya Open
2010Robert Dinwiddie EnglandMuthaiga272−123 strokes Julio Zapata[14]
Tusker Kenya Open
2009Gary Boyd EnglandMuthaiga271−134 strokes Andrew Butterfield
Philip Golding		[15]
2008Iain Pyman EnglandKaren272−123 strokes Thomas Feyrsinger[16]
2007Edoardo Molinari ItalyKaren274−61 stroke James Kamte[17]
2006Johan Axgren SwedenKaren270−104 strokes James Hepworth
Gary Lockerbie		[18]
2005Daniel Vancsik ArgentinaKaren272−83 strokes Michael Kirk[19]
Kenya Open
2004Marc Cayeux ZimbabweKaren270−10Playoff Leif Westerberg[20]
2003No tournament
Sameer Kenya Open
2002Lee S. James EnglandMuthaiga265−193 strokes Titch Moore[21]
Tusker Kenya Open
2001Ashley Roestoff South AfricaMuthaiga271−13Playoff Andrew Sherborne[22]
2000Trevor Immelman South AfricaMuthaiga270−144 strokes Henrik Stenson[23]
1999Maarten Lafeber NetherlandsMuthaiga265−193 strokes Erik Andersson[24]
1998Ricardo González ArgentinaMuthaiga272−12Playoff Jacob Okello
Lonrho Kenya Open
1997Jorge Berendt ArgentinaMuthaiga268−164 strokes Sammy Daniels
Kenya Open
1996Mike Miller ScotlandMuthaiga272−12Playoff Phil Harrison
Robert Lee
1995James Lee WalesMuthaiga265−195 strokes Thomas Bjørn
Chris Williams
1994Paul Carman EnglandMuthaiga276−8Playoff Glenn Ralph
1993Craig Maltman ScotlandMuthaiga276−8Playoff Peter Harrison
Daniel Westermark
Standard Chartered Kenya Open
1992André Bossert  SwitzerlandMuthaiga272−121 stroke Craig Maltman
1991Jeremy Robinson EnglandMuthaiga269−155 strokes Paul Affleck
Philip Golding
Sandy Stephen
555 Kenya Open
1990Christy O'Connor Jnr IrelandMuthaiga271−132 strokes Chris Platts[25]
1989David Jones Northern IrelandMuthaiga271−133 strokes Mark Mouland[26]
1988Chris Platts EnglandMuthaiga271−131 stroke Mark Mouland[27]
1987Carl Mason EnglandMuthaiga275−9Playoff Gordon J. Brand
Roger Chapman
Martin Poxon		[28]
1986Ian Woosnam WalesMuthaiga273−11Playoff Bill Longmuir[29]
1985Garry Harvey ScotlandMuthaiga278−61 stroke Brian Waites[30]
1984José Maria Cañizares SpainMuthaiga277−7Playoff David J. Russell[31]
Benson & Hedges Kenya Open
1983Ken Brown ScotlandMuthaiga274−101 stroke Jeff Hall[32]
1982Eamonn Darcy IrelandMuthaiga274−101 stroke David Jagger[33]
1981Brian Barnes ScotlandMuthaiga274−101 stroke Bernard Gallacher
Sandy Lyle		[34]
1980Brian Waites EnglandMuthaiga271−131 stroke Bill Longmuir[35][36]
1979Maurice Bembridge EnglandMuthaiga271−13Playoff Bernard Gallacher[37]
Kenya Open
1978Seve Ballesteros SpainMuthaiga274−101 stroke Bernard Gallacher[38]
1977Liam Higgins IrelandMuthaiga283−11 stroke Gary Smith
Bob Wynn		[39]
1976No tournament due to economic problems[1]
1975Gary Smith EnglandMuthaiga276−12Playoff Jack Newton[40]
1974David Jagger EnglandMuthaiga274−141 stroke Malcolm Gregson[41]
1973Jan Dorrestein NetherlandsMuthaiga276−121 stroke David Jagger[42]
1972David Llewellyn WalesMuthaiga279−92 strokes Peter Tupling[43]
1971Ernie Jones IrelandMuthaiga283−5Playoff Russell Meek[44]
1970Jan Dorrestein NetherlandsMuthaiga273−1514 strokes Malcolm Gregson
Ronnie Shade
Bob Tuohy		[45]
1969Maurice Bembridge EnglandMuthaiga279−95 strokes Bernard Gallacher[46]
1968Maurice Bembridge EnglandKaren289+12 strokes Terry Westbrook[47]
1967Guy Wolstenholme EnglandMuthaiga279−94 strokes Peter Thomson[48][49]

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

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