We’ve crunched the numbers ahead of the European Challenge Tour’s season-opening Barclays Kenya Open. Here’s all you need to know about the field assembling at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi.
156 players– the top 60 and ties after round two will make the cut
28 countriesrepresented – alongside the 28 Kenyans there are players from countries as varied as Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Australia, Chile and Canada
34 winnerson the Challenge Tour
63 winsbetween them
6former winnersof the Barclays Kenya Open – defending champion Sebastian Soderberg; Jake Roos (2014); Jordi Garcia Pinto (2013); Robert Dinwiddie (2010); Gary Boyd (2009); Maarten Lafeber (1999)
4of last year’s top ten return to Nairobi – Soderberg (winner), Sebastian Heisele (T4), Daan Huizing (T8) and Darius van Driel (T8)
5 winnerson the 2016 Road to Oman – Soderberg, Clément Sordet, Simon Forsström, Adrien Saddier, Alvaro Velasco)
2 former Rankings winners– Andrea Pavan (2013) and Velasco (2010)
15 debutants– 15 players in the field have never competed in a Challenge Tour event before
20– Kenyan legend Jacob Okello is playing in the Barclays Kenya Open for the 20th time
6 winnerson the European Tour – Rhys Davies, Michael Hoey, Lafeber, Mikael Lundberg, Ricardo Santos and Oliver Wilson
1 Ryder Cup player– Wilson, who formed part of the European team in 2008
