Home hopes at the Barclays Kenya Open will once again be shouldered by a stalwart of golf in the region, as Dismas Indiza Anyonyi takes part for the 16th time in this, the longest running tournament on the European Challenge Tour schedule.
The 44 year old’s best finish in his national Open is a tie for tenth back in 2008, when he finished seven strokes adrift of England’s Iain Pyman, but he will hope to improve on that this year as he enters the final two rounds at six under par.
Both Brian Njoroge and Matthew Omondi also qualified for the final 36 holes, having made the cut on the mark at two under par, and they will also hope to improve on that position as the trio battle for the honour of being top Kenyan.
As for Indiza Anyonyi, he is happy with how he is playing, and looking to build on a performance that last year saw him in contention on the final day before four consecutive dropped shots on Sunday eventually saw him finish in a tie for 13th.
“I am the number one in Kenya at the moment and I am enjoying my game, so hopefully I can catch the leaders,” said the man with one of the game’s more individual swings.
“Thursday I was playing, and three under was OK for me, as I have been playing this course for about ten years now and have been playing the Kenya Open for 16 seasons. I was up near the lead last year but then I collapsed round the turn on Sunday and I finished top 13, but I messed up myself.
Kenyans would be proud to win the Kenya Open
"If I won I would be very happy myself, and now I feel like I am catching these guys. There are guys that are coming up behind me in Kenyan golf now too, and I hope that in the next three years maybe we will find another Indiza.
“I tried my best in the second round this week and I had plenty of birdies, but I hit one out of bounds and had three bogeys too, so I am six under overall and I am happy with that.
“I don't know if I will be in contention on Sunday, but maybe I will ask my God to help me play well.”
If Indiza Anyonyi were to triumph over the weekend he would become only the second home winner of the Barclays Kenya Open, after Peter Livingstone triumphed in a play-off in 1994.
The tournament itself was first staged in 1967, and won by England’s Guy Wolstenholme, and has since been won by three players who have also tasted success at Augusta National – namely Seve Ballesteros, Trevor Immelman and Ian Woosnam.
Indiza Anyonyi embraces compatriot and playing partner Greg Snow (facing) after the final round in 2014
