Kenya has ‘special place’ in my career – Capital Sports – Nairobi Times

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 1 – Two-time Magical Kenya Ladies Open champion Esther Henseleit says Kenya holds a special place in her heart for its significance in her golf career.

The German said playing in the country for the first time set her on the path to glory from which she has never looked back.

“This is my fifth season on the tour (Ladies European Tour) so it’s been quite a while. My first year, here in Kenya I won the rookie of the year so Kenya has a really special place in my career. I’ve been playing in LPGA for the last few years and I am hoping it goes on well,”  Henseleit said.

She is one of 96 golfers from Kenya and around the world who will be taking to the PGA Baobab Golf Course tomorrow to compete over four rounds for the prestigious title and a cumulative prize money of Kes 41 million (€300,000).

Regardless of the fact that she could make it a hattrick of top honours should she be crowned winner on Sunday, Henseleit says she is simply delighted to be back in Kenya and is not straining under the weight of expectations.

“I don’t think so…I think I have proven myself around here and it is just nice to be back and see everybody. It is a nice atmosphere and of course I’ve had very good memories here but I don’t feel under pressure to defend my title again,” she said.

Being the first of the LET series and Henseleit’s first competition of the season, the German admits that the hot weather of Kilifi has been a sobering reality for her compared to the cool one she has been used to back home.

“Yeah, every one is pretty much affected but normally I play well in warm weather. I think I can keep my cool on the course …drinking water to cool out…it is manageable but yeah I think it is hot especially when you’re coming from Europe where you are not used to this kind of weather,” she said.

Henseleit added: “You never really know what to expect because this is the first tournament in the circuit. Most of the players haven’t played much so it is kind of a fresh start of the season so I think it is quite interesting to see how it is going because you will always find areas on which to improve.”

Spectators can purchase tickets to the four-day tournament through the online platform www.ticketsasa.com which are retailing for KES 500 per day.