Okello: Kenyans need discipline if they are to crack Kenya Open code

Kenyans have been bundled out of the Magical Kenya Open (MKO) for the second year running as they failed to make the cut.

Last year, Dismas Indiza was the best-placed local in 81st position and this year, Riz Charania will be the top Kenyan in the global showpiece in 93rd spot after he exited the tournament on three over par 145.

Youngster Shashwat Harish gave a good account of himself in his debut after finishing second behind Charania in the local ranking. The promising junior ended the championship at 104th overall, on four over par 146.

Lots of expectations were heaped on Kenya One Michael Karanga who has been smashing local records left, right and centre, including bagging the Rwandan and Ghana Open titles and finishing in the top ten at the African Amateur Golf Championship in South Africa which had promised hope in the MKO.

Unfortunately, this was not to be as Karanga ended the MKO 14th in local ranking and 141st overall on 11 over par 153.

What is Kenya not doing right to conquer the prestigious championship that puts the country on the world map every season?

There is one man, Jacob Okello, who believes he has the solution to the perennial problem and his sentiments are pegged on his impressive finish in the tournament 27 years ago.

The legendary player is the only Kenyan to have reached the championship finals where he was narrowly beaten on sudden death play-off by Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina in 1998. Okello says discipline is paramount for local players to perform better in the MKO.

"I believe the MKO code can be cracked with total discipline," he told Standard Sports.

"That's what worked for me in 1998. From time management, to nutrition and consistency with training, our pros need a total overhaul in their lifestyles," he said.

"As a player, how you prepare yourself on and off the pitch for this tournament matters a lot, and from my experience in golf, the most disciplined player is the one who will eventually make the cut. It is discipline that will propel a player through to the MKO final,” he said.

“All the guys dominating the current leaderboard in Muthaiga have a disciplined way of life. You can be the best golfer but without order in your life you won't go far in this sport," he said.

Earlier before the tournament, Okello said he believed six Kenyans, especially the pros, would sail into the money bracket this season, but the outcome has been quite shocking.

"I think us pros had prepared ourselves well for the MKO as we had 20 tournaments which we played among ourselves.

"We also did not have conditions imposed on us during the two-legged MKO qualifiers held in Muthaiga and Sigona but it was us who came up with the rules and regulations of the qualification process," Okello said.

"As Okello, I believe the 20 championships we had as pros were quite enough to prepare any of us to perform well in this year's MKO.

"The MKO qualifiers were quite competitive, as a level par could not make it to the initial top eight chosen. So, we thought this was a good indicator that our golfers were going to do well in the Open.

“Actually, the top eight guys had the lowest score of one under and the highest score of 15 under which gave hope that at least six of us were going to beat the MKO’s projected cut that stood on level par on Friday," Okello said.

This year’s tournament is star-studded with eight former champions descending in Muthaiga to look for glory.

Former champions who fell casualties on the second day on Friday when the axe for the cut fell include defending champion Dairus van Driel of Netherlands, Sebastian Soderberg of Sweden (2016), Guido Miggliozi of Italy (2019), Justin Harding of South Africa (2021) and Ashun Wu of China (2022).

Also, Oliver Lindell of Finland who made history at Muthaiga when he slotted a hole in one in the par-3 13th to walk away with a Ford Ranger Wildtrak valued at Sh 6.9 Million in 2018 did not make the cut.