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**truebluefan** · 02-18-2008, 12:11 AM

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**truebluefan** · 03-05-2008, 10:00 PM

An accomplished list of former winners will serve as inspiration for a strong field when the European Challenge Tour resumes its Schedule with the Tusker Kenya Open, at Karen Golf and Country Club from March 6-9.

After a three month break the Challenge Tour, now in its 20th year, arrives in Nairobi for the 16th edition of the Tusker Kenya Open, making it the second oldest event currently on the Schedule.

A roll call of past Kenya Open champions emphasises the increasing strength of both the Challenge Tour and the tournament itself: 1998 winner Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina, who finished in a tie for sixth at the recent Dubai Desert Classic; 1999 winner Maarten Lafeber of Holland, who finished tied sixth at the inaugural EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters last month; three-time European Tour winner Trevor Immelman of South Africa, who claimed the title in 2000; and champion in 2005 Daniel Vancsik of Argentina, who won the 2007 Madeira Islands Open BPI.

The quartet subsequently graduated to, and have since kept their cards on, The European Tour – as did last year’s winner Edoardo Molinari.

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 03-07-2008, 01:00 AM

Unerring accuracy off the tee and a hot putter helped Argentina’s Daniel Barbetti secure a two shot lead after day one of the Tusker Kenya Open.

Despite blustery conditions at Nairobi’s Karen Country Club, Barbetti posted a six under par round of 65, which saw him finish the day two shots clear of the Scottish duo of Scott Henderson and Greig Hutcheon.

Having never before broken par or made the cut on two previous visits to the Tusker Kenya Open, Barbetti was determined to master the 6,984 yards course and he duly set about his task with some relish by birdieing his opening two holes.

Another birdie at the fifth hole was cancelled out by his solitary bogey at the sixth, but by picking up a further four shots on the back nine he guaranteed his place at the top of the leaderboard.

complete article

**truebluefan** · 03-07-2008, 09:25 PM

England’s Iain Pyman mastered the course and conditions at Karen Country Club to move into a share of the lead on day two of the Tusker Kenya Open on the European Challenge Tour.

Despite cool temperatures and gusting winds more in keeping with his native Leeds than Nairobi, Pyman posted an astonishing eight birdies and one eagle in a superb round marred only by a double bogey at the third hole.

The 35 year old’s eight under par 63, combined with a level par round on the first day, propelled him to the top of the leaderboard alongside overnight leader Daniel Barbetti of Argentina, who carded a 69.

European Tour Member Pyman, who is seeking his eighth Challenge Tour title, said: “I missed out on qualification for the Malaysian Open, so I thought I’d come to Kenya to get some match practice and a bit of sun on my back. I certainly got one, if not the other: it was so cold this morning, I had to wear my waterproofs. It felt like being back home in Yorkshire!

“But I was obviously pleased with the round, which could’ve been even better because I missed a few makeable putts. It’s quite tough out there, because the course is fairly bouncy – if you miss the green, you’re in the lap of the gods. So to shoot 63 was quite an achievement.”

Barbetti’s round of 69 was four shots more than his scintillating score on the opening day, but the young Argentine was still content with his day’s work after having to contend with strong winds in the afternoon.

He said: “It’s very difficult to play in such conditions, because the wind changes direction from one minute to the next. The main difference between my two rounds was that my driving yesterday was very good, whereas today I had more difficulty off the tee. But I’m still in contention, which is good. I came here to win, and I’ve given myself a very good chance to do that.”

England’s Steve Lewton moved into third place with a fine round of 66, which featured seven birdies. Lewton was trailed by one shot by the Scottish duo of Scott Henderson and Greig Hutcheon, both of whom shot one under par rounds of 70 after their 67s yesterday.

Henderson, a former winner of the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award, posted three birdies on the front nine before losing his momentum after the turn. Three-time Challenge Tour winner Hutcheon also made a blistering start with birdies on his first two holes, only to suffer bogeys at the 10th and 11th.

**truebluefan** · 03-09-2008, 09:52 AM

The English pair of Gary Clark and Iain Pyman are in hot pursuit of Argentina’s Daniel Barbetti, who for the third consecutive day leads the way at the Tusker Kenya Open on the European Challenge Tour.

Londoner Clark’s bogey-free round of 65, featuring six birdies, was the lowest of the day at Nairobi’s Karen Country Club, and saw the 36 year old move into contention to land his first Challenge Tour title.

Clark was joined on nine under par – one shot off the lead – by compatriot Pyman, who blamed miss putts for a failure to repeat his heroics of the previous day, when he shot a 65.

Both Englishmen have set their sights on overhauling young pretender Barbetti, who has headed the field since his six under par round on the opening day.

After picking up four shots through 12 holes today the Argentine had established a healthy advantage, only to see his lead shrink following a bogey at the 15th and a double bogey on the 16th.

But Barbetti regrouped, and ended his round on a high with a birdie on the final hole.

He said: “I was a bit nervous for the first few holes, but after that I settled down and started to play my natural game. The wind was a little lighter than yesterday, which made things a little easier.

“Of course I was disappointed to drop shots on the 15th and 16th, but it was good to finish with a birdie. It gave me confidence for tomorrow.

“I expect to be a little nervous, but hopefully I will be able to keep it under control. I’ve played three good rounds of golf, so hopefully now I can see it through.

“I’ve won four tournaments in South America, but this would be the biggest victory of my career. Of course my aim now is to earn a card on the European Tour. That is my dream.”

Another dreaming of victory is home hope Dismas Indiza, who joined Austria’s Thomas Feyrsinger and Scotland’s Scott Henderson on eight under par after shooting a 67.

Henderson, a former winner of the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award, posted an eagle on the par five 15th en route to a three under par round of 68.

Having finished the day three shots off the lead Wales’ Liam Bond is also in contention, as are the English duo of Steve Lewton and Gary Boyd, who are a further two shots back.

**truebluefan** · 03-09-2008, 08:41 PM

England’s Iain Pyman has set his sights on landing his first European Tour title after clinching victory at the Tusker Kenya Open on the Challenge Tour.

The Yorkshireman’s final round of 68 at Nairobi’s Karen Golf Club, for a 12 under par aggregate score of 272, was enough to hold off the challenge of Austria’s Thomas Feyrsinger, who finished three shots back.

Overnight leader Daniel Barbetti of Argentina was unable to maintain his momentum, dropping back into a share of fifth place alongside a quartet of Brits: England’s Gary Boyd and Gary Clark, and Scotland’s Greig Hutcheon and Scott Henderson.

Pyman’s triumph was the eighth of his Challenge Tour career but the 35 year old, who pinpointed a “gutsy” round yesterday as the key to his success, is yet to land a European Tour title.

Having recovered from a shaky start to the tournament to take the €28,800 winner’s cheque, Pyman is now confident of acquitting himself well at his next European Tour event, the Madeira Islands Open BPI in Portugal.

He said: “It was nice to get the winning feeling back, and hopefully I can now take that form and confidence into my next event on the European Tour.

“After being three over par through six holes on the first day, winning the tournament was probably the last thing on my mind – I was more worried about making the cut!

“Obviously after my 63 on the second day, I knew I was in with a chance of winning. But it was probably my gutsy round yesterday, when I didn’t play well at all but still shot one under, which set me up for the win.

“My mindset this morning was to attack, and maybe that was what cost me my dropped shots at five and six. I thought I’d probably blown my chances at that point. But my birdies on 11 and 12 were probably the turning point, and it was nice to finish the tournament on a high with another birdie at the last.”

Pyman also had some words of consolation and encouragement for the vanquished Barbetti, alongside whom he played yesterday.

Following an opening day 65 and subsequent sub-par rounds Barbetti had led going into the final day's play, but Pyman felt a lack of experience may have scuppered the young Argentine's hopes of landing his maiden Challenge Tour title.

He said: “I was in the same group as Daniel yesterday, and he played very well. Maybe his inexperience counted against him today, but he’ll learn from that. Sometimes you need to go back in order to move forwards.”

Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello and Alexandre Rocha of Brazil were tied for third on seven under par after shooting final day rounds of 67.