Six players to watch at KCB Karen Masters
Michael Palmer:
Palmer is the defending champion following his two-stroke victory over Merrick Bremner in the inaugural edition of this event last year. The 29-year-old has not missed a cut in four starts this season, having finished 28th at the Mopani Redpath Zambia Open, eighth at the Zanaco Masters, 16th in the Investec Royal Swazi Open in eSwatini, while he finished 20th at the Sun City Challenge, the only event played on home soil so far this season. Returning to a place where he enjoyed success, Palmer will be looking for nothing less than a victory to make it two out of two in Kenya.
JC Ritchie:
He has everything it takes to win outside of South African borders, with his maiden Tour victory having come at the 2017 Zimbabwe Open, while his second title outside of South Africa came via the second tournament of this season, the Zanaco Masters in April. The 25-year-old was tied eighth at the last year’s tournament in a colourful season where he registered two wins at the Sun Carnival City Challenge and at the Limpopo Championship, as well as that team championship victory he and Jaco Prinsloo claimed at Dainfern. Ritchie is one of the players on you should never overlook as he has not finished lower than the 28th this season, and fourth-place finish at the Sun City Challenge earlier this month is testimony to his solid run of form.
Daniel van Tonder:
He ended his five-year winless run when he pulled off a one-stroke victory over Callum Mowat at the season-opening Mopani Redpath Zambia Open in March. Thereafter, he claimed a sixth-spot finish at the Zanaco Masters and 11th at the Lombard Insurance Classic in eSwatini. The two-time Sunshine Tour winner has done exceptionally well in the three tournaments outside of South African soil this season and if you consider his runner-up finishes at the 2014 and 2015 Mopani Redpath Zambia Opens as well as the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Open last year, it is clear to see that he has no issues stepping up his game outside the South African borders. The Durban Country Club player comes to this tournament knowing well that he can finish better than the fifth spot he took at last year’s event at Karen Country Club.
Steve Surry:
Surry came in in a share of 33rd at last year’s tournament. The Englishman registered his maiden win on Tour at the last year’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Final and started the year on a high, claiming the sixth spot at the Eye of Africa PGA Championship while missed lost on the first playoff hole against JC Richie at the Limpopo Championship in March. He was a runner-up at the Investec Royal Swazi Open in May and he has not missed a cut in his four starts this season. The 37-year-old player has shown tremendous consistency since his win and looks like he can win any tournament he’s playing of late. A victory in East Africa will cap what has been a consistent 18 months for Surry.
Thriston Lawrence:
Lawrence finished 46th at last year’s KCB Karen Masters, and while it may not be the result he wanted, he got to experience the golf course, which might work his advantages at this year’s event. He has not finished lower than 21st in the five tournaments played this season, and that includes a runner-up finish at the Lombard Insurance Classic. Building up to all those results, Lawrence wrapped up the 2018-19 season on a good note, as he did not have a finish lower than 15th in his last five tournaments of the last season. Those results included a fourth-spot finish at the Eye of Africa PGA Championship and runner-up at the Tour Championship. Still hunting for his maiden Tour win, Lawrence has got the game and the attitude, and victory in Kenya will prove him not only a strong competitor, but a champion in his own right.
Jacques Blaauw:
Blaauw is searching for his first win outside the borders of South Africa. He was playing on the Web.com Tour last year when the inaugural event was staged at Karen Country Club, and a competitive player of his kind will be relishing his debut appearance in the second edition of this special event. Blaauw has not missed a cut in the five tournaments played this season, and includes a third spot finish at the Mopani Redpath Zambia Open. It’s been three years since the day of his last victory which was the Vodacom Origins of Golf in Sishen and a victory in his first appearance at this event will be sweeter for the 33-year old.
