Hakizimana eager to make amends in Kenya Open

RWANDA’S TOP professional golfer Jean Baptiste Hakizimana targets to win this year’s KCB Kenya open title. The four-day international tournament is scheduled for August 7-11 at Leisure lodge golf club in Mombasa, Kenya.After getting sponsorship from his sponsors namely Falcon gold country club and Tele10, Hakizimana departed for the tournament on Thursday.The 26-year-old Hakizimana, who has been training for a month-long stint in South Africa, arrived in Kigali on Wednesday and he hopes the four weeks he spent in South African will help him clinch the elusive title.Rwanda’s number one and number three in the region will be marking his third consecutive appearance at the KCB Kenya open and says he has got enough experience from the two previous editions to put up a big challenge. He missed the cut in 2011 and finished eighth last year.“I had enough preparations in South Africa that a golfer can need to win such a tournament (KCB Kenya Open). The target is the title even finishing second will be a failure unless something accidental happens,” Hakizimana told Saturday Sport before his flight to Kenya.He added, “The tournament will also boost my preparations for the Asian golf tour slated next month.”He noted that the reason for his early departure is to go and get used to the new playground because the usual one was changed. “We used to compete from Nyari golf club but this year we are using Leisure golf club,” he said.He also recognised sponsors’ support,” I also thank my sponsors (Falcon country golf club and Tele10) for making this possible, otherwise I couldn’t train or/and participate in the tournament.” Rwanda’s number two, Emmanuel Ruterana and number three Ernest Ndayisenga were also supposed to be part of this year’s KCB Kenya but they both withdrew after failing to get sponsorship to make the trip.

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Hakizimana eager to make amends in Kenya Open