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Thika Greens resident professional golfer Simon Ngige believes that taking part in competitive tournaments and playing regular golf is the only way he can gauge how well prepared he is for the November 12-15 Magical Kenya Open.

Ngige finished as the best placed Kenyan, tied at 25th position with a five under par 279 score, as the Kenya Open Golf Championships made its debut in the European Tour last year.

He was looking to do better this year and was prepared for it before the event was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic that forced all sporting activities in the world to come to a halt.

“I had set my target at finishing in the top 10 during the tournament’s original dates back in March.

We had just completed the Safari Tour and I was playing very well. It has now been six months of no competition.

 I have been practicing and playing with friends at Thika Sports Club, but only a competition setting can help me gauge my form and set a target. I am, however, ready to play,” said Ngige.

The 35-year old finished second, to Dismas Indiza, in the Safari Tour qualifying tournament that culminated in February at the Karen Country Club. 

He missed two of the 11 legs of the Tour, the Entebbe Open played between October 30 and November 2 which was won by Jastas Madoya and Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort Open played between November 6 and 9, that was won by Indiza.

“Safari Tour was a good place for us to prepare and the increase in number of tournaments we played helped us prepare better.

We culminated the Tour at Karen and had the chance to have a feel of the course.

As it stands,  Karen is yet to admit non-members while plans to have the next edition of the Tour begin early to help us prepare are yet to be actualised,” Ngige said.

He added: “Thing is, the organisers were awaiting clearance from the government and we could start playing this month. 

However, sixty per cent of my preparations are mental and I am working on that.

In the meantime, I continue playing at my home course and working on my physically fitness.”