Local golfers will Friday afternoon have a taste of the world’s most famous amateur event, the Mercedes Trophy, whose grand finale is held annually in Germany.
D.T. Dobie is hosting an 18-hole stableford event at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course for Mercedes Benz car owners and potential customers in an introduction event to prepare Kenya’s eventually entry into the worldwide Mercedes Trophy series in 2015.
A field of 112 players mostly Muthaiga members were drawn for today’s tournament that gets underway from 12 noon.
Every year over 65,000 golfers in over 60 countries participate in the Mercedes Trophy. The series for amateur golfers started in 1989 on a national level in Germany.
This eventually developed into the international Mercedes Trophy. Kenya, is the first African country to be included in the series with effect from 2015 where one or three events at venues to be named later will be held.
TOP THREE QUALIFIERS
The events will culminate in a national finals from where the top three qualifiers will secure tickets to Germany for the world final to compete with other finalists from around the world. The Mercedes World Trophy is usually held in September.
Finalists play three rounds in addition to other events such as visiting the Mercedes Benz Museum and the Mercedes driving range. Participants also engage in the “Straightest Drive” competition where the winners earn a trip to the United States for the US Open.
Tomorrow’s tournament, which is open to both men and women, has attracted some of the big names in the local golf scene including Kenya Open Golf Limited chairman Peter Kanyago, Toyota Kenya chairman Dennis Awori, former lands minister Amos Kimunya, Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) chairman Ashwin Gidoomal and former ladies champion Mary Karano (right) of Vet Lab .
Meanwhile, at Royal Nairobi today a field of 150 golfers is drawn for the club’s annual CSR golf tournament. The club’s director, marketing and Public Relations Sammy Itemere said this year’s event will be in aid of Security and education.
“We intend to raise funds to sponsor several community initiatives in the Kibera area that borders Royal Nairobi Golf Club.
