Last week's winner
Justin Harding
will start the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa in the company of local favourite
Greg Snow
and Dane
Thomas Bjørn
.
South Africa's Harding birdied three of his final four holes to claim his maiden European Tour title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters last time out.
And he will begin his bid for back to back titles at 13.00 at Karen Country Club in Nairobi on Thursday alongside Kenya's Snow and Bjørn, who finished in a tie for second at the Kenya Open on the European Challenge Tour in 1995.
Haydn Porteous
has fond memories of this week's host venue, having secured his maiden professional victory on this course at the 2015 Kenya Open on the Challenge Tour.
He will be joined byGonzalo Fernandez-Castañoand internet sensationHo-sung Choifor the first two rounds, with the trio getting started at 12.50 on Thursday afternoon.
Lorenzo Gagli, who won last year's Barclays Kenya Open on the Challenge Tour before earning his European Tour card, will start at 13.10 on Thursday alongsideGaganjeet BhullarandGeorge Coetzee.
Shubhankar Sharma,Adri Arnausand KenyanDismas Indiza Anyonyi are among the early starters on day one, kicking off their first rounds at 08.10.
For a full list of tee times, clickhere.