Rwanda’s top professional golfer Jean Baptiste Hakizimana has started rigorous training in preparation for this year’s Barclays Kenya Open to be held at the Nairobi Karen Golf and Country Club in March.Speaking to Times Sport yesterday, Hakizimana said, "I have started preparations for the Kenya Open. I believe early preparations will help me to put on a good performance.”Emmanuel Ruterana, ranked second behind Hakizmana, was the only country’s representative at last year’s edition but failed to make the cut.On his last competition in Kenya as he prepared for his maiden appearance in the Mena Asian Tour, Hakizimana finished ninth in the KCB Golf Tour Grand Finale at the Leisure Lodge Club at Kenya’s South Coast in August 2013.In the Asia Tour played in the United Arab Emirates, Hakizimana became the first Rwandan to take part in the competition and third golfer from the East African region.Hakizimana, who is ranked third in the East African region, represented the region alongside Ugandan top player Deo Akope and Grey Snow from Kenya.This year’s Barclays Kenya Open, is part of the European Challenge Tour which will be held at the 72-par course for the second time in two years after the successful 2013 leg, which was won by Spaniard Jordi Garcia Pinto.The Barclays Kenya Open which will be in its 23rd year as a Challenge Tour event, is Kenya’s most prestigious golf event in the region, offering an overall prize purse of euros 200,000 [Rwf183.7m] and 30,400 euros (Rwf28m) for the winner.